An Assessment of the Current Economic Conditions of Africa Essay

An Assessment of the Current Economic Conditions of Africa - Essay Example However, the continent managed to present a 5% rise in economic activity. This was as a result of greater metal and oil prices, significant boost in formal development aid and enhanced economic stability. In 2011, the economic growth of Africa fell. The current economy of Africa seems to be recovering from a ‘devastating’ situation, following the economic performance decline in 2011. The African region has been shaken by the natural phenomenon as well as critical civil wars within countries, among other human activated activities. When all this is combined, it will always impact into a region’s economy either in a positive, or a negative manner. In a span of one decade, we have seen the continent’s economy fall and with no time able to recover again. Africa’s economy was not at its worst in 2011 as many would think; holding 3.4% GDP growth from 5% in 2010. Tracing back to 2009, the economy was even lower with 3%; a percentage lower than in 2011 befor e shooting to 5%, which means that the continent has the capability to put itself back to a better position, which would contribute to an increase in the total world economic growth. This is the reason to disagree with the position that the decline was devastating; instead it is better to term the decline as average though the impact was deeply felt by the population of the continent. Africa is a continent with about 54 countries, and over one billion people living at different levels of life. This prompts the need for development in the countries that have loopholes in governance among other necessities, to fasten the growth. In one way or the other, all the countries new and existing need to co-operate and focus on one mission of strengthening the economy. Africa’s economic situation in the 1st phase of 2012 shows a forecast of recovering process by end of 2012. â€Å"With the gradual recovery of North African economies, Africa’s average growth is expected to reboun d to 4.5% in 2012 and 4.8% in 2013† (â€Å"African economic outlook 2012: Macroeconomic† 15). North African economy had been compressed following the political problems, social tension and civil wars experienced. These are countries with credible sources of oil depositories where the pressure within was felt in the whole of Africa. In South Africa, the 2010 GDP growth was at 2.9%, with an estimated increase to 3.1% in 2011(â€Å"South Africa† africaeconomicoutlook.org). However, due to basic local weaknesses and the weak global economic recovery, there was an expected slowdown in growth in 2012. In 2013, the GDP growth of South Africa was estimated to rise to 3.6% (â€Å"South Africa† africaeconomicoutlook.org). In 2011, the rate of consumption and investment grew by 3.5% and 5.2% respectively(â€Å"South Africa† africaeconomicoutlook.org). Africa was the largest beneficiary of the IDA (International Development Association), World Bank’s fun d in 2011, with a $ 7.0 billion financial commitment to improve the economy and population’s living condition to eradicate poverty (â€Å"The World Bank Annual Report 2011† 3). Much remains to be achieved in the continent despite the huge borrowing and aids received in the region. Even after the debt relief in 2005 that was a ‘salvation’ of the African countries, debt seems to be on the rise though the act the suppressed rate of borrowing. Today more than ever, the continent has changed the rate and pattern of borrowing. African countries are keen on the interests and conditions involved when taking development funds, this has resulted to China being preferred over the World Bank on financial lending in Africa. However, Africa still remains fragile where the total expenditure in most countries

Prevalence and Effects of Bullying in Public Schools Essay

Prevalence and Effects of Bullying in Public Schools - Essay Example It has been neglected by both the educationists and other stakeholders. Without a conclusive database on its prevalence and effects, it's hard for the policy makers to draft measures on how to deal with it. This writer recognized the existence of this gap and will set out to try and fill it. The proposed research will look on the prevalence and effects of this vice in our school system. The researcher will be particularly interested on the causes, effects and prevention of bullying. He will involve key stakeholders like the teachers, school administration and the students themselves on this study. Booker (2005) defines bullying as the act of harming others deliberately. This can be achieved via verbal abuse or assaulting the victim physically. It can also take more subtle and not easy to see forms. These are like manipulation and coercion (Wellington, 2005). There are several types of bullying that take place in different setting and targets different people. School bullying is such one form. It takes place in an educational institution. It can occur either in or outside the institution. Bullying is not a one time affair. It is often carried out systematically over a long period of time (Wellington, 2004). The few studies that have been conducted on school bullying have brought out several factors. They have shown that it is prevalent and causes long term or short term effects to the victims. It is also true that the perpetrators have been found to be suffering from some emotional and psychological imbalance. It is important therefore to look at the prevalence and effects of this phenomenon deeply. This can only be done by conducting researches on its causes and how it can be prevented or mitigated. Problem Statement Kendall (2006) is of the opinion that problem statement section of a research proposal must have certain elements. It should clearly state the problem that the researcher is interested in. it should also put forward the variables that the researcher wants to study and how they are related to one another. This study will address the issue of school bullying in middle and high schools. The variables will be as follows: School bullying has far reaching effects to the victim and other people in the society Bullies do share some common traits School bullying does target some students than it does others School bullying can be stopped or mitigated Background to the Problem The writer here has to show the importance of the problem that he is embarking on. He has to show other people who have worked on the problem before (Kendall, 2006). The findings and methods used by these people have to be clearly elaborated. In 2001, the United States Center for Disease Control conducted one of the few studies that have been published on school bullying (booker, 2005). It found that at least fifteen percent of middle and high school students in America have been victims. The victims were found to have problems coping with the school environment and in learning. They suffered from psychological and emotional problems as a result of this. Boys are targeted more than girls (Wellington, 2004). This may be because of the reason that majority of the

The Reasons Behind Declining Reading Habits Essay Example for Free

The Reasons Behind Declining Reading Habits Essay To acquire the habitof reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost allmiseriesof life. † Reading habithas been a great help in developing knowledge. But today, in an age when browsing thenet, playing with funky handsets and passing non-stop SMS seem to be the order of the day. The internet boom, interactive medium of images, TV and thesilver screen fillingthe minds of the modern youth, taking majority of their free time we have to think seriously how the growing generationswill find time to read. While technology is taking control steadily over individuallives, the reading habitis fast vanishing into thin air. I used to sigh at the city librariespresenting a gloomy picture of gradual decline in voracious readers who used to flock in the evenings. Twenty reasons for decline in readinghabit 1) People think that readingbooks consumes more timethan referringin the computers. Computers seem to be more attractive tothem than books. 2) The question of spending money on books is over-ruled by the thought that everythingis available in acomputer. People prefer to spend money on something else than spending on books. The programs in internet and TV aremore attractive than sitting in acorner and readinga book. 4) With the modern life style visiting placesand other recreationsor hobbies occupy most of our time. 5) There are a thousand reasons today for avoiding readingbooks or literatures. Some even say that her new nail extensionshave made it too difficult to turn pages! 6) There are risks of losing books while carrying them. Moreover, why to carry a burden unnecessarily when there is a laptop available? 7) Now people are more worriedabout earning money and spending every second in finding ways to find sources of income.

Policy Issues in US Healthcare

Policy Issues in US Healthcare Jessie E Salters   POLICY/ADVOCACY PROJECT The Georgia Public Policy Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, nonpartisan research institute. The Foundations mission is to improve the lives of Georgians through public policies that enhance economic opportunity and freedom. The Foundation is state orientated, independent, and without particular interest towards any political group. Georgias Public Policy Foundation conducts scholarly research and analysis of state public policy issues and work to educate citizens, policy makers and the media. Several events throughout the state are hosted each year to discuss issues relating to public policy issues that affect Georgians. The present policy issue of significance that this agency is actively seeking to address is health care spending. According to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, (georgiapolicy.org/2016/08/guide-issues-health-care) the government office of accountability non health care spending accounts for the consistent overall percentage of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over time, however health spending increases at an overwhelming rate. Funds that are spent on Social Security, defense, domestic programs, etc., excluding interest expense left unattended causes unsustainable federal deficit spending. This type of spending overshadows other budget interests pertaining to education and transportation thus causing health care spending to strain Georgias families budgets. Health care is very complex and has many challenges to try and address as a whole. The Georgia Public Policy Foundations plan to address the issue is by focusing their attention on what they consider to be policy issues that are misrepresentative of our health care system. The Foundation is addressing the federal tax policy, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) and coverage for pre-existing conditions.   The Foundation proposed to tighten gaps within the federal tax policy by redefining refundable tax credits to allow unused credits to reimburse safety net providers. This is assumed to be the most impartial way to improve access to health care and provide individuals with alternative ways to purchase health care insurance. The uncompensated care issues caused by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act would be alleviated by use of the tax credits. The tax credits would assist in the transparency between employers provided insurance vs. commercially purchased insurance. To prevent take-over by employer insurance the tax credits would only be offered to employees that dont have employer insurance. Pre-existing conditions would be address by replacing costly regulations with high-risk pools. This is beneficial to individuals who are considered to be medically uninsurable based on certain health conditions or reasons.   The Georgia Public Policy Foundations expected response as a result of their advocacy efforts would be a sound health policy with the characteristics being Patient Centered, Security for the Sickest, Equitable Tax Treatment, Personal Responsibility, Access for All, and Transparency. In reverence to the above current policy issue the article by Alan R. Weil, Coverage Expansion, Accountable Care, and More. Health Affairs 36, no.1 (2017):7 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1607 expressed concerns that are associated with the above policy issues. This article identified health care as a primary talking point during the election year. The Affordable Care Act was considered to make Health Care accessible and affordable for all. However, health care coverage expansion, accountable care, and disparities are issues associated with the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. Health care premiums continued to sky rocket in 2016. The health care market is difficult to measure since insurance premiums continued to change from year to year and underwriting has a significant effect on prices. Premium increases are based on the prices of product offered and not products people actually buy. Health Affairs, (2016.1607) reported disparities in California that showed individuals switched their insurance plans to the plan of lowest cost. This in turn caused a rise in the amount of money paid by enrollees, more than individuals that were only searching for insurance. Reports indicated a third of individuals did not received insurance discounts due to the lack of knowledge or because of obtaining the insurance out of the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Medicare Shared Savings Programs used data that was from two years of services provided by accountable care organizations (ACOs) that indicated racial and ethnic disparities.   New payment procedures are needed to ensure a positive quality of healthcare is provided and accessible. Cost and health care quality in the Alternative Quality Contract (AQC) was compared among enrollees in regions of Massachusetts with lower and higher socioeconomic status which found disparities in process measures but not in outcome measures. Medicare subsidies are not equal to the quality and improvements as in the Alternative Quality Contract. The information contain in this article illustrate and support the need for advocacy in implementing consumer driven health care reforms. This article describes how difficult it is to achieve health care at the local, state and federal levels due to systematic and controversial differences that are prevalent and are affecting our health care system. The need for continued advocacy at all levels is vital to succeeding at revitalizing our health care system. REFERENCES Alan R. Weil, Coverage Expansion, Accountable Care, And More: Health Affairs 36, no. 1 (2017): 7 doi: 10. 1377/hlthaff.2016.1607 Guide to the Issues: Health Care: Retrieved From; http://www.georgiapolicy.org/2016/08/guide-issues-health-care/

Imperialism and Its Effects :: History Essay

Imperialism is the policy by which one country takes control of the land of another region. The Age of Imperialism lasted from 1870 to 1914. The development of imperialism mirrors that of industrialization. This is because the two reflect growth and progress. The US was more focused on competing for resources and new markets during this era. Concerns for the US were the economic situations of the Pacific and Caribbean, along with the strategic importances of these areas. Imperialism was inevitable with the growth of industry. In need of materials, countries would take control of other lands. Ethno-centrism became a part of the European state of mind. They felt driven to impose European beliefs and ideas on the conquered territories. This was deemed the "White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling, who was very much against this movement. India was very affected by Europe. Europeans created a scramble for Africa and formed spheres of influence in China. Today, imperialism is much subtler, often in the form of foreign aid to create favorable relations between the two countries. Many nations benefited from imperialistic practices in that they provided an opportunity to modernize. Much of the infrastructure, educational facilities, and hospitals in these countries were built by the imperialist nations controlling them. Along with the positive changes came negative. People were repressed and their cultures were left behind. Because of this, the nationalist movement was sparked.

African Creation Stories :: African Culture Creation Tales Essays

African Creation Stories Since the beginning of humankind, there has been one common thread that ties together all cultures and religions of the world: an attempt to explain their origins. this holds true for the numerous religious groups existing on the African continent. In the absence of science, they resorted to creating stories to account for what they did not and could not understand. While similar in their basic design and theory, these stories varies greatly in their content and meaning. By studying them, much can be learned about the African people of the present and past. The Shilluks of the Nile region, for example, tell a story in which humankind is fashioned out of clay. In each region of the world in which the creator traveled, he created humans from the materials available, making some white, others red or brown, and the Shilluk black. He then took a piece of earth and gave them arms, eyes, etc. This story says much about their values and culture. In distributing the characteristics to man, he chose first to give them the ability to do work through the use of their arms and legs. They were then given the ability to see and taste their food. Finally, they were given speech and hearing with which to entertain oneself ("An African Story"). This shows the value system at work among the Shilluk, that work comes above all else. It also attempts to explain the differences between men of various races by telling of how they came about. A West African creation tale explains how two spirit people were accidentally sent down to earth by the sky god. Lonely, the people decided to create children from clay, but feel they must hide them when the sky god comes down. Because they are hidden in fire, the children soon turn to various shades based on how long they had been exposed to the heat. Over time, these clay children grow up and move to various regions of the earth, ultimately populating it (Fader). Much like that of the Shillu k people, this story serves a two-fold purpose: it explains both the creation of man as well as accounts for the differences among him. This tale shows the West Africans value these differences because they feel that all men are created equal and should be treated as such. The Boshongo, a central Bantu tribe of the Lunda Cluster, tell a different story.

Clinical Practice Essay

Clinical practice is of outmost significance because this is the site where students can turn theory into practice, students can interact with patients and families, and face the real world of medicine. It is significant and useful to reflect upon assessment practices to evaluate students in clinical setting. For this purpose, this paper analyzes three articles relevant to the clinical practices by the nursing students, and the role they should play outside the classroom, and who should evaluate them in the clinical setting. This paper also features suggestions and recommendations derived from the reflections and analyses made on the articles reviewed. Article one. The ongoing search for best practice in clinical teaching and learning: A model of nursing students’ evolution to proficient novice registered nurses. This article by Edgecombe and Bowden (2009) features current search to implement best practices in clinical teaching and identifies those positive and negative elemen ts as well as the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that make an impact on nursing students’ learning process, and their development and growing process from students to proficient novice nurses Rns. The study was conducted at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, and involved 111 students. A model was created intending to assist students in their transformation from students to RNs, the Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) model was designed as an innovative approach for clinical teaching. This approach focuses on the specific use of the clinical setting available for learning practices in health settings such as mental health centers, acute medical departments, and surgical wards or community health organizations. The DEU follows the principles of adult learning of modifying, relearning, and replacing knowledge, skills, strategies and values through experience gained, and reflections made (Edgecombe & Bowden, 2009). The DEU foundational philosophy relies on the sound relationships between clinicians and academicists, valuing their contributions aimed at establishing the optimal learning environment for nursing students. Also valuing nursing students’ views. The model described in the article might have influences on the development of future curriculums, upgrading of staff and on different approaches used to place staff in adequate positions. The model can also serve to do research works intended to the teaching and learning process in the realm of nursing educ ation (Edgecombe & Bowden, 2009). Among the elements analyzed in this article, the authors highlighted  the emphasis students placed on the importance of belonging to a place, to feeling valued and trusted. These positive feelings, greatly influence the students’ learning processes. However, when a student feels isolated, neglected from the regular clinical staff or heavily or unfairly critized or scoffed at his/her performance, these actions have a negative impact on the learning stage at this specific clinical setting (Edgecombe & Bowden, 2009). It is important to observe tha bulling, and lateral violence at the workplace exist in some hospitals and health settings, as indicated by Broome and Williams (2011), especially with novice nurses or new nurses when they begin working for the first time in a clinical setting. In this regard, Broome and Williams (2011) state that in some health care settings the problem takes place when some experierenced nurses complaining about novice nurses’ performance, and the lateral violence develops in different ways and causes serious impacts on the victims. Dellasega (2009) considers that lateral violence manifests in cover or overt verb al and non verbal aggression episodes. Reflecting upon these topics among the negative effects that a toxic environment may cause to nursing students as indicated above by Edgecombe and Bowden, (2009), the author of this paper also believe that bullying and lateral violence can also create a harmful atmosphere for the learning process among students who develop their practices in a clinical setting. Article 2. Developing a successful nursing objective structured clinical examination. This article written by McWilliam and Botwinski (2010) evaluates the basic components for developing relevant and useful nursing objectives in the clinical area for nursing students, but these authors failed to highlight some significant aspects of high-skilled therapeutic work, the importance of interpersonal aptitudes, and blending some key information into practices in clinical settings. The article deals with assessing the clinical skills that students may acquire in different health scenarios. This practice is vital because students can work and learn from different scenarios, patients and diseases (Mcwilliam & Botwinski, 2010). According to Mcwillian & Botwinski (2010), clinical educators should pass on their experience gained to students, and at the same time, should ensure that patients also gain safe nurturing consideration. In achieving these goals, the delivery of clinical instructions should be imbuied of professional ability, proper interpersonal relations, and adequatin g aspects  of temperament. Educators should have a clear idea on the model that may guide them turning a speficic scenario into a learning experience, and also into an evaluative procedure that will be mutually beneficial for the educator and the nursing students. Nurse’s decision-making abilities derived from critical thinking and evidence-based practice have been analyzed by various analysists who have reflected that choice making is a studied skill that nurse educators should teach, but there are few research intended to investigate the choices made by nursing students. If more information of this topic is available, educators will be capable of designing a more proper curriculum that also covers the developing of this attitude geared to teach students how to make better choices (Mcwillian & Botwinski, 2010). The author of this paper believes that tools to furnish the nursing students to develop critical thinking and choice making are a vital part of the curriculum. It is true that not all topics can be covered in a curriculum as stated by Mcwillian and Botwinski (2010), but decision making process and a good guidance are crucial elements of a proper and adequate nursing training in clinical practice. Article three. Evaluation in clinical practice using an innovative model for clinical teachers The article features the Reflective Interaction Analysis in Nursing Education (RIANE) Model which addresses the problems faced by clinical teachers of how to turn information-rich interactions in clinical practice into objective information using a format that provides valuable feedback and helps evaluation. The Model facilitates the translation of the interactions for clinical teachers that occurs on a daily basis with nursing students, recorded in notes for their further use in formative and summative evaluations (Zafir & Nissim, 2011). The article discusses the use of this model in the training of a group of nurses that will become clinical teachers. The RIANE model motivates clinical teachers to see the students’ clinical interactions as another way to contribute to the learning process, as an educational opportunity. It provides certain order in an amount of information difficult to manage by clinical teachers who have to find a way to make this information accessible to students (Zafir & Nissim, 2011). The author of this paper considers that allowing the students to learn from their daily experiences, enabling them to provide feedbacks, and being heard, are great positive contributions for educational purposes in the  clinical setting, and the clinical instructor can keep track of their students by recording notes while the students also render their clinical collaboration. Zafrir and Nissim (2011) believe that the proper role clinical teachers should play is that of guidance, support, inspiration, and facilitating learning. Also these authors consider that an environment of mutual trust and confidence should prevail in supporting students’ process of learning and growth. There are several models for clinical instructors and faculty to evaluate students outside the classroom: The clinical instructor can use the modality of preceptor ,one to one relation, in which an experienced nurse serves as a preceptor for a certain period of time. The clinical teaching associate (CTA) model uses a staff nurse collaborating with a faculty to train a given number of students for clinical practices. The paired model features one-student, one patient model, a variation of the preceptor model, and a student begins clinical practice within specific days supervised by a staff nurse for a practicum experience (Billings and Halsted, 2009). Other models for clinical instructors to evaluate students outside the classroom, and on occasions, jointly with the faculty during their clinical practices are the clinical teaching partnership where a form of collaboration is established, the service institution contributes with a clinical nurse specialist and the university constribut es with a faculty member. Adjunt faculty is another model in which the faculty is a health care professional hired by a service setting in the modality of part-time. This professional can serve in several roles as supervisor, mentor, guest lecturer, and preceptor, and can also render a collaboration in research works (Billings and Halsted, 2009). The role that a student should play in the evaluation process should be that of a student that prepares for the clinical experience, establishes good relationships and exhibits proper communication skills, learns and accepts feedbacks and adapts to the assigned clinical setting and advances in his/her performance. The unsuccessful student in the clinical experience is unprepared for this activity, does not establish communication efficiently, breaks legal and ethical practices, uses practices that are not safe, his/her adaptation to the assigned clinical setting is poor (Lewallen and DeBrew, 2012). The students under a clinical practice can act in the following scenarios: labs, homeless shelters, camps, agencies that render social services often involving interdisciplinary health settings. The clinical teacher-student interaction is a significant part of this practice (Billings & Halsted, 2009). The author of this paper believes that students should embrace this relation, and take a good advantage of this opportunity to learn at large all what is taught by the instructor and assimilate the experience gained while doing the clinical practice, since the student is exposed to several medical situations. Conclusion The three articles reviewed contribute to make a good analysis of the possibilities of evaluating students in clinical settings. The clinical area is significant in training novice nurses because they are in contact with the real world and can interact, not only with patient but with their families and the professional colleagues and other related staff they will be working with during their professional life. The practice in clinical settings enables students also to be more confident in themselves, because after they can apply theory into practice will feel more capable in their profession, and become more autonomous decision makers. The students will have the possi bility to raise their caring abilities, and play more realistic roles based upon their practice.