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In Pakistan, an accreditation system has been introduced to accredit teacher education programs and initiatives are being taken to begin the registration, licensing, and certification process of teachers. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan has declared the accreditation of teacher education programs mandatory. All the institutions offering any graduate-level teacher education programs are required to get the accreditation of their programs. The National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (NACTE) has accredited around 450 programs of more than 180 public and private sector teacher education institutions, which include colleges and universities, offering teacher education all over Pakistan. The current research is descriptive, which focused on providing an accurate description of the impact of teacher education programs, and the institutions equipped with the facility. This method was preferred as the study primarily sought to describe and understand the stakeholders' response to the impact of accreditation on the institution and program improvement, rather than ascertaining any cause-and-effect relationship. The criterion for sample selection was based on the participation of the faculty concerned, the head of department (HOD), and the external evaluators in the accreditation process of the programs, offered by the institutions. A five-point Likert scale was developed to collect data from the stakeholders (HOD, teacher educators, and external evaluators). The use of mean, SD, provided the basis for calculation, application, and interpretation of t-test and ANOVA. The results show that majority of participants were of the view that the accreditation process has a high impact on the improvement of teacher education programs.

Emotional intelligence is a contributing construct to learning and other personal and career developments. It is a perplex notion involving many conceptions which resulted in various tools of emotional intelligence. University education is a terminal stage when young people are ready to enter the job arena and are expected to be emotionally sound. Numerous studies have been carried out on the differentiation of emotional intelligence of the learners, particularly at graduate and postgraduate levels. This study is an attempt to investigate emotional intelligence of the university students. Since there are differences in the findings of various studies in terms of gender; therefore, this study also considers to explore the discrepancy of the emotional cognizance of the male and female learners at university level. The target participants of this investigation were the students of all five faculties of a university in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, a province in Pakistan. The Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) developed by Wong and Law (2002) was used for data collection. The outcomes of the investigation showed that female learners were ahead of male in emotional intelligence. Further, the learners of business and economics had superior level of emotional intelligence, while students of Arts and Humanities had inferior level of emotional intelligence. The study put forward some valuable suggestions, particularly through curricula enhancement and for further research activities.

Purpose of this study was to investigate teachers' conceptions, attitude and practices of educational technology. Mixed-methods approach was adapted for this study. Sample of the study was 300 secondary school teachers. Self-designed questionnaire containing 15 items was administered for quantitative data, while interview was conducted with ten teachers. The questionnaire was properly validated statistically. Content analysis was applied which shows that teachers have misconceptions about educational technology that revolves only around material things. t-test analysis shows that practice and attitude towards educational technology was also not satisfactory and most of the teachers were found with poor attitude towards technology. Result shows that male had better conception than their female counter parts. Similarly, interaction effect calculated using generalized linear model and results showed that effect was significant in the practices of using technology only where rural female had good score while the other two aspects were not significant. In-service training is therefore suggested for improvement of teachers' status in this particular area.

The study aimed to develop and validate a test for the measurement of mathematical thinking of secondary-level students. The first-stage aspects of mathematical thinking were explored for a consolidated model in line with the curriculum of secondary-level education in Pakistan. Thirty-six items were developed and piloted in three schools. Factor analysis was applied to ensure the construct validity of the instrument. The analysis shows that each item was significantly loaded in its corresponding construct with a little deviation shown by two of the 36 items. The data show that this deviation was caused by the overlapping nature of the content and construct.

The intent of this study is to explore the role of head teacher in transforming reflective practices in government primary schools. Reflection is a high impact practice that develops teacher's pedagogical practices which ultimately develop and facilitates the development of new knowledge and skills. Reflective practices enable teachers to continually examine their own thoughts, perspectives, beliefs, and actions. Findings of this study revealed what sort of research is needed to train and prepare primary teachers to make instructional decisions regarding their classroom practices as a strategy of continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program. This study was based on the objective: To investigate the role of school head teacher in primary school teacher's reflection. The study follows qualitative research design and was based on exploratory single case study design. The instruments used for data collection were included semi structured interview, analysis of primary school teacher's reflective diaries and observational notes of participant teacher lessons in order to find out the complete process of reflective practice in the context of Government primary school. The participants of this study included teachers of grade 1 to grade 5 and the head teacher. For data analysis content analysis method was applied and thematic categories were developed for interpretations. The findings of this study revealed that reflective process create sophisticated teaching learning process as well better students learning outcomes. It was found that the head teachers accomplished central role in enhancing process of reflective practices. It is recommended that the head teacher needs to carry out planning and continuity of a process of reflective practice, arranging of seminars, formulating the goals of reflection for different purposes making an observation notes, communicating and cooperating with teachers and to support teachers' reflective practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the current intended secondary school mathematics curriculum with international standards and implementation. A Mixed-Method approach was used in this study. The sample of the study was 100 secondary school students. A self-made questionnaire containing 15 items was distributed for quantitative data, while an interview was carried out with ten teachers. Statistically, the questionnaire was properly validated. Content analysis was applied which shows that teachers have there are a lot of problems while implementing the curriculum. The students' data was analyzed by the graph. There was a gap between the intentions with implementation. Only some private schools were good in responding to the intentions of the curriculum while the majority of them were not so good. It was recommended that in-service training should be provided for the teacher to promote their skills in sense of intentions and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is attributed by prominent researchers as well as educational experts that educators are performing wideranging duties for the nation by sustaining through educational undertaking to the most important stakeholders, the learners. Teaching is a source, to accomplish the educational objectives and lead programmed development in the learners, without discrimination of their caste and age. Educators build and increase a relation with the learners by interrelate and sustaining them for their better prospect. Pakistan is encouraged to enlarge the quantity of Higher Education Institutions. By commencement of 2017, there were 192 universities (114 public78 private) as contrast to existed institutions in 1947. In accumulation, the public sector was traditionally the biggest contributor of higher education of the 20th century, but this circumstance has been changed completely. By the start of 2018, private sector has share 41% of the overall Universities. In Pakistan, an accreditation system has been introduced to accredit teacher education programs and initiatives are being taken to begin the registration, licensing, and certification process of teachers. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan has declared the accreditation of teacher education programs mandatory. All the institutions offering any graduate-level teacher education programs are required to get the accreditation of their programs. The National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (NACTE) has accredited around 450 programs of more than 180 public and private sector teacher education institutions, which include colleges and universities, offering teacher education all over Pakistan. The current research is descriptive, which focused on providing an accurate description of the impact of teacher education programs, and the institutions equipped with the facility. This method was preferred as the study primarily sought to describe and understand the stakeholders' response to the impact of accreditation on the institution and program improvement, rather than ascertaining any cause-and-effect relationship. The criterion for sample selection was based on the participation of the faculty concerned, the head of department (HOD), and the external evaluators in the accreditation process of the programs, offered by the institutions. A five-point Likert scale was developed to collect data from the stakeholders (HOD, teacher educators, and external evaluators). The use of mean, SD, provided the basis for calculation, application, and interpretation of t-test and ANOVA. The results show that majority of participants were of the view that the accreditation process has a high impact on the improvement of teacher education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afghanistan that remained the epicenter of terrorism and insurgency in the post 9/11 incident, suffered irreparable loss in both human and infrastructure, is now heading towards an era of peace and political stability. The signing of the peace agreement on February 29, 2020 by both the US government and the Taliban is a great development for strengthening democratization and power-sharing among the stakeholders in Afghanistan. However, certain hurdles stand in the way of peace and stability. This paper discusses some of the key areas such as the dilemma of Afghan presidential elections, Pakistan's controversial role, role of neighboring countries and the Indo-Afghan Nexus. Lacunae in the US-Taliban agreement to the exclusion of the Afghan government in the agreement and the threat of the ISIS are some of the other hurdles in bringing peace and stability in the country. Bargaining among the US and Taliban and the various stakeholders of Afghanistan is the only viable solution to the problem which provides the basis for theoretical framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the in vitro susceptibility of vaginal Candida species isolates retrieved from both pregnant and non-pregnant vaginal candidiasis patients belonging to urban and rural areas of Peshawar against commonly used azole antifungal agents. Material and Method: Susceptibility assays were performed on isolates collected and differentiated.40 isolates were recovered from 50 pregnant and 50 non-pregnant (urban=25 and rural=25) vulvovaginal candidiasis patients, 28 isolates from pregnant women (urban=22 and rural=6) and 12 isolates from non-pregnant women. (urban=10 and rural=2) were retrieved. Results: Overall susceptibility order of test agents in urban population was clotrimazole>ketoconazole=fluconazole>itraconazole. In rural population it was clotrimazole>itraconazole>ketoconazole however fluconazole showed highest resistance. Overall susceptibility order of test agents in pregnant patients was clotrimazole>ketoconazole>fluconazole>itraconazole. While in non-pregnant patients it was clotrimazole>itraconazole>fluconazole, whereas ketoconazole showed highest resistance. Conclusion: All strains from urban as well as rural population were susceptible to clotrimazole. Isolates from urban and rural areas showed extreme resistance against itraconazole andfluconazole respectively. The most susceptible drug in pregnant vaginal candidiasis patients was clotrimazole while itraconazole remained highly resistant. While in non-pregnant patients C.albicans was mildly susceptible to clotrimazole, however, ketoconazole and fluconazole remained highly resistant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the research paper is to find Shavian traits of Superman in Caesar and Cleopatra. Shavian Caesar is quite different from Shakespearean Caesar. Shavian Caesar is having the traits of “Life Force” and “Will to Power” which enables him to capture the whole Egypt. In the first three acts Caesar is Cleopatra’s teacher, but in next two acts she behaves in a queenly way because of Caesar’s influence over her. He handles the situation very intelligently and deals Egyptian army without punishing anyone. He treats his prisoners as guests and releases them as soon as he wins the situation. Cleopatra is all the time busy in chasing him and wants him to be the prisoner of her beauty. She wants to make him jealous, but she cannot do so. Her erotic power is quite appealing but Caesar does not respond her in the way she wants. She is all the time busy in pursuing him but his strong “Life fore” and “Will to Power” makes him an exceptional human being. He wins the war because of his intellects and good tactics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the Research Paper is to trace the different traits of the concept of Epicureanism in Moll Flanders. The researcher has used qualitative method where help has been taken from the close textual analysis of the novel. Moll Flanders, by Daniel Defoe, deals with different themes of the age of Daniel Defoe. The novelist has made Moll Flanders as her mouth piece where she has used the character as a tool in order to highlight her contemporary issues inside England. The protagonist has been the victim of Epicureanism. Epicurean philosophy advocates enjoying all the physical worldly pleasuresin its oft-quoted maxim, ‘eat, drink and be merry’. The protagonist of the novel is a circumstantial prostitute but she is also in search of the pleasures of life. She suffers because of her unlimited worldly wishes and desires. She travels different places and marries different people just to cater to her insatiable desires and wishes. Defoe has focused on the reality of human life in whichevery individual struggles for a comfortable life but by engaging in such struggles, sometimes, an individual loses whatever he/she has. Thus, the novel dealsmainly with the concept of Epicureanism and its importance in one’s life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth potential of three indigenous landraces (Kulat brown, Kulat white, Mothi) and two improved varieties (NARC-II and Swat-84) of soybean planted under four dates from April to July during 2004 and 2005 growing season were compared. Relative growth rate (RGR) was determined at 1) early vegetative growth 2) bloom and 3) seed filling stages and seed yield. Differences in RGR due to planting dates, varieties and planting dates x varieties were significant at early vegetative and bloom stages. At seed filling stage, varieties and planting dates x varieties did not show variation in RGR. Maximum RGR at the early vegetative growth, bloom and seed filling stages was recorded for July (89mg g-1 day-1) May (58.8 mg g-1day-1) and April (8 mg g-1day-1) planted crops, respectively. Similarly maximum seed yield (1459 kg ha-1) was observed in April planted crop. The average RGR recorded for early vegetative growth, bloom and seed filling stages was 71.6, 40.1 and 4.8 mg g-1day-1 respectively. At early vegetative growth, maximum RGR (79.6 mg g-1day-1) was observed for Kulat brown. At bloom, maximum RGR (46.3 mg g-1day-1) was recorded for Kulat white. At seed filling no difference was observed in RGR among the varieties. The overall average RGR for the landraces (42.4 mg g-1day-1) was greater than the RGR of improved varieties (34.1 mg g-1day-1). Improved varieties produced maximum seed yield (1306 kg ha-1) as compared to landraces (1245 kg ha-1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment with two factors i.e. wheat varieties and fertilizers treatments was carried out to investigate the integrated effect of organic, inorganic fertilizers and beneficial microbes (BM) on wheat during 200S-09 and 2009-10 using randomized complete block design with four replications. Wheat varieties were Uqab (V1) and Fakhar-e-Sarhad (V2) and fertilizer treatments were control (T1), full dose of N (120 kg N ha-1) from urea (T2), half (60 kg N ha-1) of recommended N (T3), 1/2 N from urea + 1/2 N from FYM (T4), 1/2 Nfrom urea + 1/2 N from PM (T5), 1/2 N from urea + 1/2 from (FYM+PM) (T6), 1/2 N from urea + BM (T7), 1/2 N from urea + 1/2 N from FYM + BM (Ts), 1/2 N from urea + 1/2 N from PM + BM (T9), and 1/2 N from urea + 1/2 N from FYM + PM + BM (T10). Beneficial microbes comprised of lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, yeasts, fermenting fungi and actinomycetes applied at the rate of 25-liter ha-1 in two-splits, half with 1st irrigation and half with 3rd irrigation. Significant (P⩽0.05) effect of fertilizer treatments on all the parameters was noted; maximum number of tillers (345 m-2), plant height (91.6 cm), leaf area (23.6 cm2) were recorded in treatments receiving 1/2 Nfrom urea + 1/2 N from FYM + BM while the highest days to emergence (12) were recorded in control treatment. Comparing the relevant treatments with and without BM, an increasing trend was noted in all the parameters with the application of BM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imam-al-Bukhari RA (194-256 A.H) was born in Bukhara on 18th Al-Shawal. His full name is Muhammad Bin Ismail Bin Ibrahim Bin Mugheera, his patronormic is Abu Abdullah and his appellation is "Bukhari". He is among those great benefactors of the (Muslim) "Umma", the fruit of whose diligence and struggle is benefited by all till this day. He was blessed with retentive memory and competence in the science of Sunna'h (Hadith). Reading or studying seem to be food for his mind as teaching and learning was his inherent quality, reporting and writing Hadith as his daily business. He made people write numerous Hadith. This article, by analyzing the teaching methodology of Imam-Al-Bukhari, will guide teachers towards means and ways to bring improvements in their teaching techniques. Likewise, students would be able to know the methods used by the great Imam, the roots of which are found in the era of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). They will better understand the methods of the Prophet (SAWS), who was sent as a teacher for the entire humanity. We can extract and deduce the principles of teaching methods of Imam-Al-Bukhari (RA) discussed in his own words from the book "Sahih Bukhari " in chapter "Kitab-al-ilm "-the personality who reported great number of Hadith and holds an alleviated position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the most preferred styles of the public and private secondary schools' principals in District Charsadda (KPK). The findings suggest that the conflict styles though vary in nature but interestingly both types of the principals almost follow the same conflict management styles. For analysis of data, Kendall's Tau B and Tau C were utilized. On the basis of findings of the study some recommendations have been forwarded for policy implications. The paper concludes that all the principals should adopt the best style according to the demand of the situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the problem solving processes of gifted students as they solve different non-routine mathematical problems. Twelve Jordanian gifted students (6 males and 6 females) were tested in this study. These students who achieved 90% or more in the final school mathematics test were randomly selected from year 9 in Maan governorate. Each student was required to think about a method aloud before solving six non-routine problems, followed by individual interviews for four students (2 males and 2 females). The problems focused on arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Then the researchers analyzed students' written solutions. The analysis is based on Polya´s four steps model (1990): understanding, selecting the planning, carrying out the plan, and verifying or checking the answer. We found that in general, the students were aware about mathematical problem solving steps and different strategies to solve the problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan, since its inception (1998) has conducted 12 sets of Entrance Test, for the Medical and Dental Colleges of the province. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of entry test conducted by ETEA and subsequent performance of the students. A cohort of 386 dental students, who were admitted for the four-year program in the two public sector dental colleges of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa during the academic sessions 2000-2005, comprised the sample of the study. The association between the predictors (F.Sc, Entry test scores and overall merit) and the criterion (academic achievements/scores of dental students from first to final year) were analyzed using Pearson correlation techniques on SPSS-16. The data show significant correlation between predictor and criterion variables. Gender wise analysis revealed that the performance of female students was better than male students. Overall, our findings show a significant relationship between the predictor variable and the academic achievement of dental students. However, the inclusion of additional predictors, such as interview or test of non-cognitive domains of the students in the admission criteria may improve the accuracy of admission decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated epistemological beliefs held by chemistry teachers at secondary level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sample of the study were 400 chemistry teachers from target population out of three districts of zone 2 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Convenient sampling technique was used in school selection while teachers were randomly selected. Data were collected through researcher-developed questionnaire followed by semi structured interview and were analyzed through statistical tools i.e. mean, standard deviation, ANOVA, t test, correlation and qualitative data through qualitative data analysis techniques. Epistemological beliefs questionnaire was used to measure teachers' beliefs. Finding of the study revealed that teachers hold a range of beliefs i.e. naïve and sophisticated beliefs and those beliefs in return influences teachers how to teach. It was recommended that teachers, teacher educators, curriculum developer and ministry of education endeavor to diagnose and unravel chemistry teacher's beliefs, and if alterations of beliefs are desired, encourage mediation to reshape those beliefs through proper mentoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies show that recurrent neural network provided promising results for character recognition. We have extracted number of features using sliding window approach from normalized Urdu Nasta'liq text line image. The text line is scanned from right to left and top to bottom by considering Urdu script properties and extracted geometrical or statistical features, zoning and raw pixels features. We conduct four studies like sliding window with non-overlapped frame, sliding window with overlapped area with previous frame, multiple zones in a frame and raw pixels. In this paper, we evaluated MDSLTM with CTC output layer on UPTI dataset for Urdu character recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]