Archive for year: 2025

Child protection and well-being are central priorities within education systems worldwide, including Sri Lanka. Although national safeguarding policies exist, implementation remains uneven, revealing a gap between policy intent and everyday practice. This study examines how Sri Lankan schools interpret and operationalize child-protection awareness within their institutional, sociocultural, and community contexts. A stratified sample of schools and a purposive sample of stakeholders were drawn from the Piliyandala Educational Zone in Western Province. Using a mixed-methods exploratory sequential design, surveys were administered to teachers (n = 120) and students (n = 300) across twelve urban, semi-urban, and rural schools, alongside semi-structured interviews with principals and child-protection officials (n = 25). Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, and qualitative data were examined thematically. Findings show that schools adopt varied approaches to safeguarding shaped by resources, staff capacity, and community influences. Student awareness of protection concepts was high, yet teacher preparedness was limited, with only 12 percent receiving formal training in trauma support. Institutional mechanisms also varied: Child Protection Committees existed in 42 percent of schools, with only 23 percent functioning effectively, and urban schools showing stronger compliance. Schools relied on internal programmes, government-led initiatives, and NGO-supported activities, although these efforts were fragmented and reactive rather than coordinated. Sociocultural factors, including stigma, hierarchical communication norms, parental instability, and community-level risks—restricted disclosure and weakened prevention. Concerns about confidentiality reduced the use of formal reporting structures, while emerging digital pathways appeared promising within ongoing education reforms. Overall, the study highlights a structural and cultural misalignment between national child-protection commitments and their enactment in schools. Strengthening teacher training, building institutional capacity, expanding community partnerships, and developing secure reporting systems are essential for protective and responsive learning environments. The study provides evidence to guide policy refinement, curriculum development, and targeted safeguarding interventions within Sri Lanka’s education sector.

This article discusses Islamic eco-theological values implemented in the form of green da’wa in Pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) in Indonesia. Using a case study approach at Pesantren Al Ittifaq in Bandung, West Java, and Pesantren Assalaam in Manado, North Sulawesi, this article observes how Islamic eco- theological principles are implemented in Islamic preaching practices in Pesantren. Data was obtained through interviews, observations, documentation studies and focused discussions. The results of the study show that both Pesantren, Al Ittifaq and Assalaam, integrate ecotheological principles into various da’wa and educational programmes, such as sustainable agriculture and the provision of ecological understanding and awareness based on the Qur’an and Hadith. Specifically, Pesantren Al Ittifaq stands out with its agribusiness innovation in the form of sustainable agriculture as a form of environmental da’wa, while Pesantren Assalaam places more emphasis on strengthening awareness of the importance of environmentally friendly da’wa and building ecological awareness within the Pesantren and the surrounding community. These findings prove that Pesantrens have an important and strategic role as educational institutions that implement the principles of Islamic ecotheology in the practice of green da’wa.

This study investigates the impact of social media on the academic development of undergraduate students at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka. The primary objective is to assess how students utilize social media for academic purposes, identify the most commonly used platforms, examine its effects on academic performance, and determine the factors that hinder effective academic use of social media. Grounded in Social Learning Theory, which emphasizes learning through observation and interaction, the research aims to explore how social media can be harnessed as a tool for academic support and growth. A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing a survey method to collect data from 300 undergraduate students. This sample size was determined using the Comrey and Lee (1992) method. The survey focused on students’ social media usage patterns and their perceived impact on academic performance. The findings revealed that all respondents actively engage with social media, with WhatsApp and Facebook emerging as the most preferred platforms for academic activities. Contrary to many prior studies that suggested a negative impact, 5% of students in this study reported a positive influence of social media on their academic performance. Many students use social media to access supplementary academic resources, complementing their classroom learning. However, challenges such as poor internet connectivity, distractions, and difficulty in locating relevant academic content were identified as barriers to effective use. Despite these challenges, students generally view social media as a valuable academic tool. The study recommends that students focus on academic content while using social media, limit time spent on non-educational activities, and that educators increase the availability of academic resources on these platforms. These strategies aim to balance the academic benefits of social media with its potential distractions, maximizing its positive impact. The study underscores the dual nature of social media, calling for a balanced and focused approach by both students and educators to enhance its academic value.

This study examined the relationship among customer service, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty in selected casual dining restaurants in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Using a descriptive- correlational design, data were collected from 340 customers selected through simple random sampling across five restaurants. A validated, researcher-made questionnaire measured five dimensions of customer service reliability, responsiveness, assurance, tangibles, and empathy alongside levels of satisfaction and loyalty. Results showed that overall customer service was rated “Strongly Agree” (M = 3.25), with tangibles ranking highest (M = 3.30), followed by responsiveness (M = 3.28), assurance (M = 3.26), empathy (M = 3.25), and reliability (M = 3.18). Customer satisfaction and loyalty were both rated “Very High” (M = 3.28 and M = 3.27, respectively). Pearson r correlation analysis indicated significant relationships: service dimensions correlated moderately with satisfaction (r = .416 to .584, p < .01) and loyalty (r = .258 to .415, p <.01), while satisfaction and loyalty also showed a moderate positive correlation (r = .486, p < .01). Findings confirm that improved customer service enhances satisfaction, which in turn strengthens loyalty. The study recommends action plans focused on staff training, loyalty programs, and customer engagement to sustain service quality and promote long-term business growth.

When Jesus Christ came into this world, He built His Church. This Body of Christ, the church, was meant to be composed of all born-again people from any race or tribe. It is also represented in localities by the local church of Jesus Christ. The church was to have an upward purpose of worshipping and glorifying God, an inward purpose of teaching, discipline, and ensuring the unity of the body’s members, and an outward purpose of reaching the unsaved world for Jesus Christ. To achieve this three-fold purpose of the church, Jesus Christ ordained leaders for His church. These included apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers for the universal church, and pastors, deacons, and deaconesses for the local churches. In addition, He gave many other gifts of the spirit to various members of the church. The purpose of these gifts was that the body of Christ would be equipped and united for the purpose for which it was established. These leaders, however, face daunting challenges in their role of equipping the saints of Jesus. The world, economic pressures, and pressure from cults and non-Christian religions and some of the forces that the church leader has to reckon with in this modern time. By relying on the word of God and the spirit of God, however, the church leader should be able to overcome the challenges confronting his or her ministry.