EMPIRICAL REVIEW OF VOCATIONAL CHOICE AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
1Samuel Dontoh, and 2James
Kwabena Odum
1Department of Education, Ofinso College of
Education
2Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Catholic University College of Ghana
Abstract: The current empirical
review of career choices among senior high school students is organized around
the following thematic areas: How adolescent students plan their vocational
choices, The factors that influence adolescent students’ vocational choices,
The role of guidance and counseling in shaping students’ vocational choices and
the challenges schools face in helping adolescent students make the right
vocational choices Empirical research on this area of adolescents' vocational
behavior has not been given much attention and has not been explored in
revisions concerning vocational choice among senior high school students.
Several studies in this area have been reviewed and summarized in this work.
Conversely, this empirical review noted that though most public schools in
Ghana have guidance and counseling units, they are not specifically designed to
help adolescents make career and vocational choices. Rather, they observed that
counseling units focus more on adolescent physical transformation, sexual
development, and separation from parents, identity confusion, social issues,
and individuality. Furthermore, the review focused on how teenage adolescents
make decisions about their future careers. The variables that affect the
occupational choices of teenage pupils, the importance of advice and counseling
in influencing students' career choices, as well as the difficulties that
schools confront in assisting teenage pupils in making the best possible career
choices. One of the findings in this review revealed that the performance of
females in Australian schools was comparatively lower in career planning,
greater in exploring career options, awareness of the professional world, and
choosing a career. Another finding in South African schools witnessed no
difference in gender pertaining to career planning. At the same time, women
performed worse in terms of professional world awareness and career choice in
terms of career exploration. However, adolescence is a critical stage for
adolescents' integration into the professional world. Scholars argue that
adolescents can develop a work attitude and consistent perception of the world
of work at an early stage in life.
1Chukwuma
Chinaza Adaobi, 2Cecil K. Dovia, 3Dr. Joseph Mawunyo
Apeadido, and 1Felix Fiavor
1Catholic University College Fiapre, Sunyani Ghana
2Oti Regional Health Directorate
3Worawora Government hospital
Abstract: The current
investigation analyzed the effect of the combination of standardized hydroalcoholic
extracts of Asparagus racemosus (AR), Centella asiatica (CA), and Plumeria
rubra (PR) on glibenclamide (GB) administered in experimentally induced
diabetic nephropathy (DN) in Wistar rats. The study was conducted at the Heaven
Diagnostic Laboratory in Sunyani, and the DN was induced by alloxan monohydrate
(160 mg/kg i.p). Seven rats within 6 months (0.5) to 11 months (1.0) of age
were selected. The DN rats were given
the combination of AR, CA, and PR extracts as ACP (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg,
respectively) along with GB (5 mg/kg). Group 1-4 were cosntrol, diabetic
control, standard GB (10 mg/kg), GB (5 mg/kg), while groups 5-7 were given ACP
(100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) along with GB (5 mg/kg) once daily for 30 days. Blood
glucose, serum insulin, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine,
superoxide dismutase (SOD), albumin, malondialdehyde (MDA), and kidney
histopathological examination was done in all the experimental animals. ACP
along with GB improved the derailed glycaemic status, renal biochemical, and
oxidative stress parameters in animals. Co-administration of ACP (400 mg/kg)
with GB (5 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.01) decreased BUN, creatinine, uric
acid, significantly increased (p<0.05) SOD, significantly (p<0.01)
decreased MDA, significantly increased (p<0.05) serum insulin when compared
with diabetic control. Histopathological observations corroborated with
biochemical parameters. Enhancement in the effectiveness of GB was observed
with ACP (400 mg/kg). Thus, ACP confers protection by improving renal,
oxidative parameters, and morphological abnormalities in the kidneys.
WORKPLACE STRESS AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN SECOND CYCLE SCHOOLS
1Rev Fr. Dr. Augustine
Owusu-Addo, 2Samuel Dontoh, and 3Larissa Agbemelo-Tsomafo
1Department of Arts, Catholic University
college of Ghana
2Department of Education, Ofinso College of
Education
3Department of Communications and Journalism, Catholic University College of Ghana
Abstract: The study is centered
on researching and evaluating occupational stress and its effects on job performance
among members of staff at selected senior high schools in the Sunyani
Municipality. The study sought to find out how work-related stress could affect
the productivity of staff of selected senior high schools in the Sunyani
Municipality in the dispensation of quality education for students in SHS. This
research also identified certain factors which contribute to occupational
stress among staff of the selected senior high schools. The systematic sampling
technique was used to select 150 participants for the study. The results of
this study revealed that workload was the major cause of occupational stress
among staff of Senior High Schools in the Sunyani Municipality. Health-wise,
some members of staff of the selected senior high schools had developed chronic
back pain, an effect of long sitting hours at work. Management commitment to
employee-related issues such as paying attention to workload conflict remains
very important. Training programmes were perceived as significant steps which,
if embraced, were identified as major contributory factors that could improve
the productivity of staff. It will be prudent on the part of authorities to
take a very serious note of occupational stress and manage it very well so as
to be able to reduce its effect on output. It has been recommended that these
schools in the municipality engage their staff in exercises and training that
will help them reduce stress so as to increase productivity. Once this is done,
it will translate to the performance of the students. In conclusion, workplace
stress has a negative effect on academic output in senior high schools, and
this, in the long run, affects the performance of staff and students at large.
The earlier it is handled well, the better.
Atianashie
Miracle A.1, Elisha D'Archimedes Armah2, and Nasiru
Mohammed3
1 Department of Computer Science, Catholic University
College Fiapre, Sunyani Ghana
2Department of Computer Science and Technology, Cape
Coast Technical University Ghana
3 Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Abstract: Sleep Disorder is the
most well-known clinical issue experienced in medication and psychiatry that
can affect your sleep quality. Sleep apnea and Insomnia are the most common
disorders these both disorders impact the quality of life later on in health
and also lead to Heart strokes, hypertension, etc. Sleep hygiene is primary an
essential component of human life and important to maintain a good diet and
exercise. Without the proper required amount of sleep, we cannot work properly
the next day onwards and are disturbed mentally as well as physically. In this
paper, we developed a new model, an automatic framework to detect the sleep
disorder using Convolution Neural Network (CNN) then developed a Graphical User
Interface for the classification of the disorder. The Proposed model is deployed
on a raspberry pi processor board for real-time prediction. We trained our
developed model on the most popular databases MIT – BIH Polysomnography (PSG)
and Cyclic Alternating Pattern (CAP) and yields 92 % accuracy. The use of
single-channel EEG to classify sleep disorders is described in an article as
remarkable. The feature extraction and feature selection algorithms are not
required. Physicians will be able to spot certain sleep patterns, such as
exhaustion, sleepiness, and sleep disorders, with the proposed technique. In
this article, we introduced a novel single-level architecture for sleep
disorder classification. The proposed model is developed with a Deep learning
algorithm i.e., Convolution Neural Networks these models were mostly developed
for the classification of images (2D or 3D) where the model understands an
interior representation of a 2D input, this process is known as feature
learning. It is capable of working with signal processing also such as 1D
signals.
WHAT IS THE PATH OUT OF THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT? WHERE LIES THE SOLUTION?
1Larissa Agbemelo-Tsomafo, 1Dr Magdalene Mensah, 2Yeboah Carlos, and 3Atianashie Miracle
1Department of Communications and Journalism,
Catholic University College of Ghana
2Department of General Nursing, Catholic
University College of Ghana
3Department of Computer Science, Catholic University College of Ghana
Abstract: The review aims to
find out the way out of the human predicament? Where the solution lies? The
examination elaborated on human life's critical philosophical predicament and
the answer behind it; the study listed these problems as scientism, suicide,
hedonism, Asctism, commitment, cultism, indifference to procreation, and
finally, religion. The findings state that the (right) answers to life's big
questions reveal that the human condition is a tragic predicamentone from which
there is no escape. In a sentence: Life is terrible, but so is death. Of
course, life is not bad in every way. Neither is death terrible in every way.
However, both life and death are, in crucial respects, awful. Together, they
constitute an existential vicethe wretched grip that enforces our predicament.
The review determines that there is no doubt that commitment to one's life to
doing good in pursuing a worthy cause gives one's life meaning and value. The
study further states, Mother Theresa of Calculta stands out as a shining
example. She committed her life to the cause of alleviating the suffering of
the poor, the wretched, the outcast, the dying in the streets of Calcutta in
India. In so doing, she so endeared herself to the Indians that, when she died,
a day of National Mourning was observed throughout India, and she was given a
state burial, the type given to Heads of State. This was in recognition of her
selfless commitment and service to India. Perhaps, in this situation, a wise
person would choose the better option that will put him on the safe side, which
is to believe in God and submit to him.Besides, this option gives meaning to
human life and removes absurdity from it.