This article examines two television documentary series, River Elegy (1988) and To the Sea (2011), which provoked wide-spread reaction in Chinese society at different key historical moments. Underlying their seemingly oppositional stands is the uninterrupted dominance of modernization ideology, according to whose criteria the Chinese diagnose or even invent traditions as causes of China’s “backwardness” or “advance” in relation to the Western world set up as universal norms. A comparison of the two shows also allows for tracing the evolution of knowledge and meaning production mechanisms in China from the onset of the Reform in the late 1970s till the end of the first decade of the new century, a three-decade period during which the core of cultural elite changed from literati to technocrats. To call into question the uncritical embracing of modernization ideology as well as the utilitarian interpretive scheme of the past will be a first step toward thinking about alternatives for the future of China and the world. 

The study examined how 21st technologies can be integrated into Religious Education (RE) methods of teaching in secondary schools in Uganda. With the exponential growth in the devices used to enhance educational technology, learners can learn anytime anywhere, thus, the need to integrate the new technologies in the teaching of RE in secondary schools to make it more relevant in the 21^st century. Of particular importance, is the notion that, in the 21^st century, the teaching of RE is no longer concerned with imparting morals and passing of national examinations as it has traditionally been, rather, the teaching of RE ought to be concerned with empowering learners with lifelong skills that enable them to meet the new demands of development and market economy that are driven by technological innovations. There is no doubt, therefore, that the 21st century ought to be characterized by rapid advancement in technology and most secondary schools in developed countries have embraced the application of these new technologies in teaching. 

Introduction: Secondhand smoking is a major problem encountered in childhood and prenatally. Many studies showed its association with early pubertal events in the growing child. Such studies are lacking in Lebanon. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine if a correlation exists between early pubertal events and secondhand smoking during childhood or maternal smoking during pregnancy in Lebanon. It also aims to correlate the association of these smoking habits with the educational level. The study also assesses the prevalence of early pubertal events and defines such events when they occur. The effects of smoking during pregnancy on birth events are also tackled. Methods: A cross-sectional study is conducted using a questionnaire to interview teenagers between 14 and 16 years of age about their pubertal events and their exposure to smoke. They were divided into groups according to their exposure. By using the SPSS software, the associations between different variables are determined by a chi square test. Results: No association was observed between secondhand smoking during childhood or a smoking pregnant mother and early pubertal events. The prevalence of early puberty is 11.1%. Most frequent early pubertal events were spurt growth and pubic hair growth in girls and ejaculation and axillary hair growth in boys. Smoking during pregnancy was not associated with increased birth events. No association was seen between the educational level and exposure of a child to smoke or smoking during pregnancy. Conclusion: Early pubertal events were seen in 11.1% of the population and were not associated with the exposure to smoke, prenatally or postnatally. The educational level of a parent does not affect smoking during pregnancy or exposure of a child to smoke.

The Naga symbol holds profound significance in Southeast Asian, particularly Khmer, culture as a representation of water, life, and spiritual power. Rooted in ancient mythology, the Naga embodies both creative and destructive forces of nature, reflecting humanity’s dependence on and reverence for water. Among wet rice agricultural societies like the Khmer and Vietnamese, water symbolizes fertility, prosperity, and survival, making the Naga a central cultural and religious motif. The Khmer associate the Naga with their origin myth—Prince Preah Thong’s marriage to the serpent princess—linking it to the foundation of their civilization. In art and architecture, especially in Angkor temples, the seven-headed Naga symbolizes divine protection and the cosmic balance between gods and demons. The motif also integrates Brahmanist and Buddhist beliefs, where the Naga protects the Buddha and embodies the vitality of Dharma. Festivals such as Ok Om Bok and rituals involving boat races further highlight its symbolic connection to water and life. Overall, the Naga serves as a unifying symbol of nature, spirituality, and agricultural identity in Khmer culture, reflecting humanity’s enduring relationship with water as both sustenance and power.

The study assessed the contribution of TETFund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) to the development of higher education in North-East Nigeria. It examined the effectiveness of TETFund contributions to the development of higher education in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Sir Kashim Ibrahim College of Education Maiduguri in Borno state and Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic Geidam in Yobe. It also, identified possible ways of improving such contributions to strengthened the development of higher education in Nigeria`s North-East region. Primary and secondary methods of data collection were utilized in the study. The study found out that, TETFund is seriously contributing to the development of higher education in Nigeria`s North-East region. It discovered that TETFund contribution to the development of higher education in North-East Nigeria are effective. The study recommended increased annual and special interventions to public higher institutions in North-East Nigeria as possible ways of improving TETFund contributions to the development of higher education in the region.

The general direction of my position in this study is that, the on-going Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria`s North- East region is negatively affecting the development of tertiary education in the region. The study identified the impact of the insurgency on students` enrollment and academic performances. The study also investigated the impact of the insurgency on academic staff occupational mobility and infrastructural development in four selected tertiary institutions in the North-East region. The University of Maiduguri, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, College of Agriculture Gujba and Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic Geidam were the four selected tertiary institutions studied in the research. The research used qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry. Reduction in level of students` enrollment, rising record of poor academic performances, departure of academic staff and destruction of developed facilities and obstruction of infrastructural development were found out to be part of the impact of Boko Haram Insurgency on the development of tertiary education in North-East Nigeria. Improving security within and around tertiary institutions as well as providing lucrative risk allowance package for academic staff of tertiary institutions in the North-East region were part of the policy suggestions made by the study.

Smartphone can keep us connected in our professional lives, through email and phone calls, they can keep us connected to friends and family through social media and text messages and they can give us an escape from reality through the various apps that fit one’s personal interests. research has shown that personality traits such as neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness, and self-esteem can influence how individuals use mobile phones and can detect patterns in mobile phone use. While it may seem obvious that smartphones impact most people’s day to day lives, an interesting question arises when we begin to wonder how smartphone usage may be impacting level of  emotional intelligence. , individuals with lower levels of emotional intelligence show less physical and mental well-being and possess a higher risk of developing Internet addictions. This also applies to smartphone addictions Further; Different research questions arise when we begin to think of the relationship among emotional intelligence and smartphone use. Present paper elaborates the pervasiveness of smartphone along with associations between Smartphone usage and emotional intelligence.

The health sector is vital to the productivity, growth and development of any political system. When the health sector collapses, the human capital is seriously undermined and mortality rates increases and thereby induces poverty in the long run. As vital as the workers in this sector are, many health workers have threatened and even embarked on strike at various times and even in this period of COVID 19 pandemic. This study seeks to investigate, from the point of view of health workers, the causes, types and consequences of industrial actions in the health sector. A cross-sectional study of public health facilities in Ondo State, was employed using a survey design involving data collection from 600 participants, across the various departments of the health institutions. Participants were drawn from the three senatorial districts of the study area. Data analyses involved the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. From the study, many factors are responsible for industrial actions, especially the non-fulfillment of promises made by government to the workers. Also, the study affirmed that strike actions, protest, lockout and boycott of emergencies are noticeable ways of conflict displays at the health institutions. Furthermore, findings indicated causes of conflict correlate strongly with negative impacts on patient, health workers and society. The study concludes that industrial conflict in health care could result into increases in mortality, spread of diseases in the society, and exploitation of patients. Therefore, complications to health  matters were affirmed to be an outcome of industrial conflict in the health care centers. Study therefore recommends that in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and negative effects of strikes, governments should ensure that conflicts are prevented by quick response and swift enforcement of the decisions reached at negotiations.

The issue of freedom and responsibility has been a perennial problem in the history of philosophy. Numerous scholars have given their views on this. Many in light of man’s rationality, designate man as a free animal. Practical experience also shows that at times what we believe to be a free decision seems to have been influenced in one way or another by various psychological and social factors. As such, it may seem as if we do not actually decide what we claim to have done ‘freely’. In view of these considerations certain pertinent questions are bound to arise such as- what is the nature of man’s freedom? Is there a limit to this freedom of man? If there exists a limit, who sets it? Is there the possibility that despite this freedom of man, he is destined to certain ends as a result of the various psychological and social factors that play vital roles in his decision-making process? Consequently, this work undertakes a basic study of the concept of freedom in the light of Jean Paul Sartre’s existentialist philosophy. For him, a thorough introspection into the being of man reveals the fact of man’s absolute freedom. As such, man is responsible for his essence. This work further discovers that for the fact that man has absolute freedom, and is not determined in anyway, he consequently bears the responsibility accruing from his decisions.

The study investigated the relationship between class size and Social Studies teachers' productivity in Upper Basic schools in Delta State. Three research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The study utilised employed a descriptive research design, using a questionnaire method of data collection. The sample for this study consisted of eighty (80) Social Studies teachers drawn from ten (10) public Upperbasic schools in Delta central senatorial district. The technique used to arrive at the sample was the simple random sampling technique. The instrument used in this study for data collection was the questionnaire. The data collected were analysed with frequency counts to answer the research questions, and Pearson product-moment correlation was employed to test the null hypotheses. The result of the study revealed that there is a statistically significant relationship between class size and teachers' productivity; there is a statistically significant relationship between class size and classroom management; there is a statistically significant relationship between class size and teachers' commitment to teaching. Based on the findings and conclusion, it was recommended that the government and all stakeholders should take urgent steps in education to prune down the number of students in schools to manageable sizes so that effectiveness can easily be achieved; the government and other education stakeholders should pay adequate attention to the conduciveness of teacher's work environment that would enhance better classroom management; adequate classroom should be provided with a suitable learning environment.

The paper focuses on knowledge and impacts of climate change on rural farmers' productivity in Ondo North Senatorial District, Ondo State, Nigeria. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were utilised to elicit information from 400 rural farmers who were selected from Ondo North Senatorial District. Results indicated that majority (91.4%) of the farmers exhibited good knowledge about climate change.  Farmers acquired knowledge about climate change by listening to radio transmission (82.5%) and from experience (58.37%). Majority (96.4%) of the respondents’ attitude towards the implications of climate change is negative. The correlation tests showed that farmers’ social-economic status relates to their knowledge of climate change based on age (r(392) = -0.134, p< 0.05), marital status (r(392) =  -0.187, p< 0.05) and educational attainment (r(392) =  0.393, p< 0.05), but not gender, farming experience, and monthly earnings. There was a significant and negative relationship between effect of climate change and productivity level (r (392) = -0.379, p< 0.05). The study therefore recommended that in order to minimize the negative effects of climate change on farmers' outputs, government should focus on farmers' enlightenment through electronic media, mostly radio, and extension services of the Ministry of Agriculture should be provided to the resource poor farmers.