Abstract: Although qualitative and quantitative purists view their different research designs as unmixable, many researchers have found that mixed research integrates qualitative and quantitative research designs to answer research questions in as detailed a manner as possible. Thus, this study used survey, focus group discussions and qualitative interviews to explore the perceptions of 191 postgraduate students regarding the use of mixed research for their thesis and dissertation research. The study also explored the perceived barriers militating against postgraduate students’ use of mixed research. Descriptive statistics showed that 77% (n = 147) of the respondents indicated positive perception regarding mixed research whereas 23% (n = 44) had negative perception and did not declare willingness to use mixed research for their thesis and dissertation. Thematic analysis of qualitative data indicated the rationale behind the mixed perception regarding mixed research.  Among other factors, participants with positive perception declared the use of mixed research as the in-thing, they also consider mixed research capable of driving collaboration among researchers. Nevertheless, participants with negative perception admitted that lack of strong local support (i.e., the non-prevalence of local lecturers or researchers with expertise in mixed research) is a barrier militating against the use of mixed research design as well as a reason for their negative perception. They also noted the feeling of alienation from reading mixed research textbooks, written without the context of developing countries in mind, as another factor. The implications of these findings are outlined to advance the understanding that mixed research is attracting global appeal.

Abstract: Education has to be relevant and functional to respond to the needs of the society. The breakthrough of technology forced the educational technocrats to provide trainings and transform the teachers to acquire the skills necessary in this 21st century. This study unfolds the teacher identity of the public secondary school educators whose ranks were Teachers 1 or 2 and have served the Department of Education from 13 to 37 years.  Using the phenomenological approach in which the 11 informants in the in-depth interview and 6 participants in the focus group discussion (FGD) underwent the face-to-face interview with the researcher. Data analysis was subjected to NVIVO to extract the core ideas from the bulk of information as shared by the participants in this study. Results revealed that the educators despite that they were not promoted and appreciated remained dedicated in accomplishing their tasks. Positive personal qualities, enhancement of professional skills through classroom activities and social relationship with the people in the academe through the years forged in the formation of their teacher identity. Their commitment to their profession has been professed by them and recognized by their colleagues. Passionate in educating their students, they willingly extend their services even beyond their classroom duties. Although they were not prioritized in attending trainings to become trainers, these teachers become experts through their years of experiences. Inability of utilizing their expertise by the school principal contributed to their sad plight. Their worth as public educators has been surpassed by the issues confronted by the government educational system.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to contribute to the literature regarding potential indirect, mediating variable for the relationship between instructional leadership and teacher self-efficacy. In particular, professional development was investigated as a potential mediating construct to explain the manner in which instructional leadership affects teacher self-efficacy with the use of survey questionnaires as tool in gathering the primary data from the 400 secondary teachers in Region XI. The study employed a non-experimental quantitative design utilizing the correlational technique of research which is designed to gather data, ideas, facts and information related to the study. Statistical tools employed in the analysis of data gathered were mean, Pearson r, regression technique, medgraph using Sobel z-test. Results revealed that there is a significant relationship between instructional leadership and teacher self-efficacy, instructional leadership and professional development and professional development and teacher self-efficacy in Davao Region. Results in the mediation computation revealed that significant partial mediation occurred.

Abstract: Reading is a very germaine skill that needs to be taught well. The need to improve the teaching of reading is now recognized as the logical part of achieving universal access to primary education for all children by 2015.  After all, what good does it do to have children attending school if they do not learn to read and use reading to learn? (Commeyras & Ketsitlile, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to unpack The Concept of Nonsense Syllables (Pseudo Words) by a German Psychologist, Hermann Ebbinghaus in 1858. This Concept has been found to be very effective and useful to teach some of the aspects of reading instructions essential at the early stage of the learners’ life. Learning to read and reading to learn are also important factors in The Concept of Nonsense Syllabus as children have to learn how to pronounce, decode and understand the words. Hence, it is important in this paper to discuss phonemic awareness; that is the ability to notice, think about, and work with the individual sounds in spoken words (Reading Rockets, 2012). The teaching of phonics (the relationship between sounds and letters) is also very important in learning to read and reading to learn. In addition, pupils need to be taught phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension (Armbruster & Osborn, 2001).  Pupils who can say words but do not understand what they mean in concert are not reading.

Abstract: The research was aimed at investigating the motivation of teachers of vocational and technical education (VTE) as the way forward for Nigerian educational reform in administration and planning. The research was restricted to the views of teachers in the school of vocational and technical education of the tertiary institutions in Abuja FCT and Niger State. Populations of 500 respondents were randomly selected. The instrument for data collection was questionnaires. The chi-square (X2) method was used in explaining the questionnaires. This was followed by the chi-square test. The major findings revealed that teachers of VTE are not adequately motivated and this is responsible for the failure in other areas of educational reform programme. The researcher recommended among others that teachers’ motivation should form a pillar upon which other considerations rest in order to achieve the much-desired reform of VTE in this country.

Abstract: This study is in the influence of extroversion-introversion and subject preference in the academic performance of secondary school students. It is a departure from traditional pattern where academic performance has been typically associated with intelligence rather than personality or subject preference. The specific objectives of this study include to find out possible differences in the subject preferences and academic performance of secondary school students who manifest different types of personality traits and to examine the possible differences in the subject preferences and academic performance of the two personalities along gender lines. Two research questions and six null hypotheses were formulated. The study sampled secondary school students in Nigeria using the descriptive survey design. The total population for this study is 14,189 students and the sample for this study was 375. Three different instruments were used for this study to assess personality, subject preference and academic performance of students. Psychometric properties of the instruments were determined and reliability coefficients of 0.74 and 0.78 were obtained for the SPQ and SSPI respectively. Mean scores, frequency counts, percentages and t-test statistics were used in the analysis of data that were collected. This study found significance of difference between subject preferences between students showing extroverted and introverted traits as well as significant difference between the academic performances of students due to personality type. In view of this result, it is recommended that personality-based guidance of students on their vocational choices be made a priority. Teachers and parents should also be encouraged not to see a particular personality type as being academically inferior to other.

Abstract: The progress of a country rests on the quality of its teacher. Thus, teacher is considered as the pivot of any education and the strength of a nation. . It is worldwide accepted that teacher’s instructional performance plays a crucial role in students’ learning.
The intention of this research was to determine the influence of professional identity, professional commitment and teachers’ performance in Davao Region. The respondents of the study were the 400 Public Secondary School Teachers chosen from the ten schools divisions of Region XI, Philippines using Slovin’s formula. Three sets of questionnaires on five point rating scale were prepared. The data obtained were tabulated, analyzed and interpreted utilizing descriptive-correlational method with mean, Pearson r, and Linear Regression. In all cases, significant differences among variables in this study were found.