Analysing Social Media Conversations to Understand Public Perceptions of Sani...UN Global Pulse
The United Nations Millennium Campaign and the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council partnered to deliver a comprehensive advocacy and communication drive on sanitation. Their efforts were in support of the UN Deputy Secretary General’s Call to Action on Sanitation to increase the number of people with access to better sanitation. Global Pulse provided an analysis of social media in order to provide insight on the baseline of public engagement, and explore ways to monitor a new sanitation campaign. Using a custom keyword taxonomy, English language tweets from January 2011 to December 2013 were extracted, sorted into categories and analysed.
Cite as: UN Global Pulse, 'Analysing Social Media Conversations to Understand Public Perceptions of Sanitation', Global Pulse Project Series, no.5, 2014.
Mining Citizen Feedback Data for Enhanced Local Government Decision-Making - ...UN Global Pulse
Pulse Lab Jakarta worked with the Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) provincial government to explore the contribution of advanced data analytics to local government decision-making by generating insights from a combination of existing complaint systems and passive feedback from citizens on social media.
The results demonstrate the potential utility of (a) near real-time information on public policy issues and their corresponding locations within defined constituencies, (b) enhanced data analysis for prioritisation and rapid response, and (c) deriving insights on different aspects of citizen feedback. The publication of citizen feedback on public-facing dashboards can enhance transparency and help constituents understand how their feedback is processed.
Cite as: UN Global Pulse, “Mining Citizen Feedback Data for Enhanced Local Government Decision-Making”, Global Pulse Project Series no.16, 2015
In emerging markets, eight out of ten small businesses cannot access the loans they need to grow. USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA) uses risk-sharing agreements to mobilize local private capital to fill this financing gap. The goal of this collaboration between UN Global Pulse and USAID is to explore how big data could support the work of USAID’s Development Credit Authority. Kenya has become an established tech leader in Africa in recent years – generating greater volumes of digital data as a result. The goal of this study is to explore what new sources of digital data, and methods for analysis, could be helpful in answering the question: “What barriers to accessing loans do small businesses in Kenya face?” Accordingly, this report paints a picture of the big data landscape in Kenya, shows preliminary findings, and lays the groundwork for further investigation.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. Singapore’s GDP is forecasted to gradually grow to 4 to 6 per cent in 2021. The bulk of economic growth will come from trade and manufacturing sectors.
2. DPM Heng unveiled a $107 billion plan in his Singapore Budget 2021 speech, which includes a $11 billion COVID 19 Resilience Package.
3. M3@Jalan Besar was launched and its initiative aim to help residents cope with mental health issues and empower elderly residents to adopt digital tools.
How Do OECD Forum Attendees Compare with Citizens Around the World on Views A...Pew Research Center
At the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s annual forum on Dec. 15, 2020, Director of Global Attitudes Research Richard Wike presented the results of an invitation-only poll of forum attendees about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, the state of the global economy, the future of work, and cooperation between countries. The presentation compared the poll's results to findings from Pew Research Center surveys of general publics around the world.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The three key highlights are:
1. Singapore’s unemployment situation has continued to improve, with declines seen across the overall, resident and citizen unemployment rates.
2. COVID-19 breathalysers could be used on large scale in Singapore soon, facilitating safe travel arrangements and screenings at large scale events.
3. Based on the new PSLE scoring system, schools will now be less differentiated by cut-off points, and pupils will have a wider range of secondary schools to choose from.
How Do OECD Forum Attendees Compare With General Publics Around the World on ...Pew Research Center
At the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s annual Economic Forum on May 21, 2019, Director of Global Attitudes Research Richard Wike presented findings from a Pew Research Center survey of forum attendees.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. The fight against COVID-19 has entered a new phase as the Singapore government unveiled the comprehensive vaccination programme for the people.
2. Despite a challenging year, Singapore’s economy has received $17.2 billion in fixed asset investments in 2020.
3. The ninth M3 town in Geylang Serai was launched on 23rd January. Wisma Geylang Serai seeks to be a pillar of support for the community as it plans new initiative such as promoting lifelong learning and healthy lifestyle
Your feedback is important for us to continuously improve our resources and publications for our readers.
Analysing Social Media Conversations to Understand Public Perceptions of Sani...UN Global Pulse
The United Nations Millennium Campaign and the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council partnered to deliver a comprehensive advocacy and communication drive on sanitation. Their efforts were in support of the UN Deputy Secretary General’s Call to Action on Sanitation to increase the number of people with access to better sanitation. Global Pulse provided an analysis of social media in order to provide insight on the baseline of public engagement, and explore ways to monitor a new sanitation campaign. Using a custom keyword taxonomy, English language tweets from January 2011 to December 2013 were extracted, sorted into categories and analysed.
Cite as: UN Global Pulse, 'Analysing Social Media Conversations to Understand Public Perceptions of Sanitation', Global Pulse Project Series, no.5, 2014.
Mining Citizen Feedback Data for Enhanced Local Government Decision-Making - ...UN Global Pulse
Pulse Lab Jakarta worked with the Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) provincial government to explore the contribution of advanced data analytics to local government decision-making by generating insights from a combination of existing complaint systems and passive feedback from citizens on social media.
The results demonstrate the potential utility of (a) near real-time information on public policy issues and their corresponding locations within defined constituencies, (b) enhanced data analysis for prioritisation and rapid response, and (c) deriving insights on different aspects of citizen feedback. The publication of citizen feedback on public-facing dashboards can enhance transparency and help constituents understand how their feedback is processed.
Cite as: UN Global Pulse, “Mining Citizen Feedback Data for Enhanced Local Government Decision-Making”, Global Pulse Project Series no.16, 2015
In emerging markets, eight out of ten small businesses cannot access the loans they need to grow. USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA) uses risk-sharing agreements to mobilize local private capital to fill this financing gap. The goal of this collaboration between UN Global Pulse and USAID is to explore how big data could support the work of USAID’s Development Credit Authority. Kenya has become an established tech leader in Africa in recent years – generating greater volumes of digital data as a result. The goal of this study is to explore what new sources of digital data, and methods for analysis, could be helpful in answering the question: “What barriers to accessing loans do small businesses in Kenya face?” Accordingly, this report paints a picture of the big data landscape in Kenya, shows preliminary findings, and lays the groundwork for further investigation.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. Singapore’s GDP is forecasted to gradually grow to 4 to 6 per cent in 2021. The bulk of economic growth will come from trade and manufacturing sectors.
2. DPM Heng unveiled a $107 billion plan in his Singapore Budget 2021 speech, which includes a $11 billion COVID 19 Resilience Package.
3. M3@Jalan Besar was launched and its initiative aim to help residents cope with mental health issues and empower elderly residents to adopt digital tools.
How Do OECD Forum Attendees Compare with Citizens Around the World on Views A...Pew Research Center
At the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s annual forum on Dec. 15, 2020, Director of Global Attitudes Research Richard Wike presented the results of an invitation-only poll of forum attendees about the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts, the state of the global economy, the future of work, and cooperation between countries. The presentation compared the poll's results to findings from Pew Research Center surveys of general publics around the world.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The three key highlights are:
1. Singapore’s unemployment situation has continued to improve, with declines seen across the overall, resident and citizen unemployment rates.
2. COVID-19 breathalysers could be used on large scale in Singapore soon, facilitating safe travel arrangements and screenings at large scale events.
3. Based on the new PSLE scoring system, schools will now be less differentiated by cut-off points, and pupils will have a wider range of secondary schools to choose from.
How Do OECD Forum Attendees Compare With General Publics Around the World on ...Pew Research Center
At the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s annual Economic Forum on May 21, 2019, Director of Global Attitudes Research Richard Wike presented findings from a Pew Research Center survey of forum attendees.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. The fight against COVID-19 has entered a new phase as the Singapore government unveiled the comprehensive vaccination programme for the people.
2. Despite a challenging year, Singapore’s economy has received $17.2 billion in fixed asset investments in 2020.
3. The ninth M3 town in Geylang Serai was launched on 23rd January. Wisma Geylang Serai seeks to be a pillar of support for the community as it plans new initiative such as promoting lifelong learning and healthy lifestyle
Your feedback is important for us to continuously improve our resources and publications for our readers.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Singapore's economy is expected to rise by 6% or more this year, according to the government's most recent prediction.
• Following the cabinet reshuffle on May 15, seven of the 15 ministries will be led by new ministers.
• Restrictions should be eased if the Covid-19 situation improves and the number of community cases lowers further.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Design Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Record number of 96,000 in Singapore get financial aid from ComCare amid Covid-19. This is a 22% increase from the 78,580 people in the year before.
- More than 2,900 participated in MENDAKI’s ‘Raikan Ilmu’ Month
- A $640 million package of support measures will be extended to individuals and businesses affected by the one-month extension of tighter measures under the stabilisation phase.
Global Pulse: Mining Indonesian Tweets to Understand Food Price Crises copyUN Global Pulse
Sudden increases in the price of staple foodstuffs like rice can push whole families below the poverty line and cause regional economic instability; these changes can happen rapidly but food price statistics are generally published only monthly or even less frequently.
This project, in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Development Planning, UNICEF and WFP in Indonesia seeks to use social media analysis to provide real-time information from the population that could enable faster responses to food price increases in the form of social protection policies. Global Pulse analysed tweet volumes relevant to food and fuel between March 2011 and April 2013 and found a significant correlation, suggesting that even potential (rather than realised) fuel price rises affect people’s perceptions of food security. Researchers also found a relationship between retrospective official food inflation statistics and the number of tweets referencing food price increases.
http://www.unglobalpulse.org/social-media-social-protection-indonesia
Role of Big Data Science in the Emerging Worldijtsrd
The present study describes the emerging roles of big data sciences across the globe which has conquered different sectors. The big data science has become one of the important component of the information sciences which has gained tremendous attention in recent past, Hence they have reached millions of users across the globe. Based on these fundamental facts, the present mini review is presented to highlight the reported studies of big data science applications and gives new facelift and calls for much more applications ahead. Prabhu Prasad "Role of Big Data Science in the Emerging World" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-5 , August 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd31780.pdf Paper Url :https://www.ijtsrd.com/computer-science/other/31780/role-of-big-data-science-in-the-emerging-world/prabhu-prasad
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Education Minister Chan Chun Sing announced that MOE will raise spending to $457 million over next five years to boost social science and humanities research
- Singapore Counselling Centre (SCC) study: More than 80% of S'pore teachers say Covid-19 pandemic has hurt their mental health
- Progressive Wage Model (PWM) boosts workers' income and strengthens family economy
Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2019 finalSABC News
The Reuters Institute's eighth annual Digital News Report is based on a survey of 75,000 news users in 38 countries across the world including in Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and, for the first time, Africa where we have looked at news trends in South Africa.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
The new PSLE scoring system sees more pupils qualifying to take secondary school subjects at higher level as more pupils qualify for Express course and 98.4% progress to secondary school.
13,000 disadvantaged students to get more help to stay in school through after-school support and customised holiday programmes.
More organisations have beefed up mental health support such as organizing self-care activities, training ‘mental health first aiders’, creating portals to provide online mental health resources, and partnering with counselling organisations to provide employee assistance.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• With a total of 262 articles, Social and Community (85), Budget 2021 (56) and Economy and employability (42) news were widely reported in March 2021. This reflects Singapore’s on-going concerns over economic and employability issues arising from COVID-19.
• This reflects Singapore’s growing concerns over social and community issues arising from COVID-19 and the highlights of the Singapore Budget 2021 initiatives.
• This version of Bites will cover aspects of the Budget that was engaged by the Straits Times, Berita Harian and Berita Minggu.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Health (71)
- Community (61)
- Economy (37)
This reflects Singapore’s growing concerns over community and economic trends due to the loosening of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) restrictions and developments in Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
At the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s annual Economic Forum on May 29, 2018, Director of Global Economic Attitudes Bruce Stokes presented findings from a Pew Research Center survey of OECD Economic Forum attendees. The invitation-only online survey, which focused on views of economic conditions, faith in the multilateral system and the future of work, was completed by 269 Forum attendees between April 26 and May 22, 2018. Some of the results from this survey of thought leaders were compared to results from surveys of the public, which were conducted in 32 countries as part of the 2017 Global Attitudes Survey.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. Singapore's economy will grow by 5.5 per cent in 2021, putting an end to the nation's worst recession ever.
2. The first shipment of Covid-19 vaccine has arrived in Singapore on 21 Dec 2020.
3. The new COVID-19 Recovery Grant, which will be launched on 18 Jan 2021, focuses on lower- to middle-income workers and self-employed people.
4. Three new M³@Towns has been announced to be established in 2021. They are M³ @ Geylang Serai, M³ @ Bishan-Toa Payoh and M³ @ Jalan Besar.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
Big Data for Development: Opportunities and Challenges, Summary SlidedeckUN Global Pulse
Summary points from UN Global Pulse White Paper "Big Data for Development: Opportunities & Challenges." See: http://www.unglobalpulse.org/BigDataforDevelopment
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
Budget 2021 provides a suite of measures to create a vibrant economy with good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans and business; cohesive society with a strong social compact and community spirit; welcoming and sustainable home for generations to come; and fiscal and social reserves to enable continued stability and progress.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The Singapore Budget will continue to provide support for sectors that face difficulties amid the Covid-19 pandemic and help Singaporeans manage concerns over the cost of living.
• Lower-income groups will benefit the most from the comprehensive set of measures laid out in the Budget to help everyone cope with the cost of living.
• National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and MENDAKI sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help Malay-Muslim workers boost skills and employability.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Singapore's economy is expected to rise by 6% or more this year, according to the government's most recent prediction.
• Following the cabinet reshuffle on May 15, seven of the 15 ministries will be led by new ministers.
• Restrictions should be eased if the Covid-19 situation improves and the number of community cases lowers further.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Design Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Record number of 96,000 in Singapore get financial aid from ComCare amid Covid-19. This is a 22% increase from the 78,580 people in the year before.
- More than 2,900 participated in MENDAKI’s ‘Raikan Ilmu’ Month
- A $640 million package of support measures will be extended to individuals and businesses affected by the one-month extension of tighter measures under the stabilisation phase.
Global Pulse: Mining Indonesian Tweets to Understand Food Price Crises copyUN Global Pulse
Sudden increases in the price of staple foodstuffs like rice can push whole families below the poverty line and cause regional economic instability; these changes can happen rapidly but food price statistics are generally published only monthly or even less frequently.
This project, in collaboration with the Indonesian Ministry of Development Planning, UNICEF and WFP in Indonesia seeks to use social media analysis to provide real-time information from the population that could enable faster responses to food price increases in the form of social protection policies. Global Pulse analysed tweet volumes relevant to food and fuel between March 2011 and April 2013 and found a significant correlation, suggesting that even potential (rather than realised) fuel price rises affect people’s perceptions of food security. Researchers also found a relationship between retrospective official food inflation statistics and the number of tweets referencing food price increases.
http://www.unglobalpulse.org/social-media-social-protection-indonesia
Role of Big Data Science in the Emerging Worldijtsrd
The present study describes the emerging roles of big data sciences across the globe which has conquered different sectors. The big data science has become one of the important component of the information sciences which has gained tremendous attention in recent past, Hence they have reached millions of users across the globe. Based on these fundamental facts, the present mini review is presented to highlight the reported studies of big data science applications and gives new facelift and calls for much more applications ahead. Prabhu Prasad "Role of Big Data Science in the Emerging World" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-5 , August 2020, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd31780.pdf Paper Url :https://www.ijtsrd.com/computer-science/other/31780/role-of-big-data-science-in-the-emerging-world/prabhu-prasad
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Education Minister Chan Chun Sing announced that MOE will raise spending to $457 million over next five years to boost social science and humanities research
- Singapore Counselling Centre (SCC) study: More than 80% of S'pore teachers say Covid-19 pandemic has hurt their mental health
- Progressive Wage Model (PWM) boosts workers' income and strengthens family economy
Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2019 finalSABC News
The Reuters Institute's eighth annual Digital News Report is based on a survey of 75,000 news users in 38 countries across the world including in Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and, for the first time, Africa where we have looked at news trends in South Africa.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
The new PSLE scoring system sees more pupils qualifying to take secondary school subjects at higher level as more pupils qualify for Express course and 98.4% progress to secondary school.
13,000 disadvantaged students to get more help to stay in school through after-school support and customised holiday programmes.
More organisations have beefed up mental health support such as organizing self-care activities, training ‘mental health first aiders’, creating portals to provide online mental health resources, and partnering with counselling organisations to provide employee assistance.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• With a total of 262 articles, Social and Community (85), Budget 2021 (56) and Economy and employability (42) news were widely reported in March 2021. This reflects Singapore’s on-going concerns over economic and employability issues arising from COVID-19.
• This reflects Singapore’s growing concerns over social and community issues arising from COVID-19 and the highlights of the Singapore Budget 2021 initiatives.
• This version of Bites will cover aspects of the Budget that was engaged by the Straits Times, Berita Harian and Berita Minggu.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Health (71)
- Community (61)
- Economy (37)
This reflects Singapore’s growing concerns over community and economic trends due to the loosening of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) restrictions and developments in Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
At the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s annual Economic Forum on May 29, 2018, Director of Global Economic Attitudes Bruce Stokes presented findings from a Pew Research Center survey of OECD Economic Forum attendees. The invitation-only online survey, which focused on views of economic conditions, faith in the multilateral system and the future of work, was completed by 269 Forum attendees between April 26 and May 22, 2018. Some of the results from this survey of thought leaders were compared to results from surveys of the public, which were conducted in 32 countries as part of the 2017 Global Attitudes Survey.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. Singapore's economy will grow by 5.5 per cent in 2021, putting an end to the nation's worst recession ever.
2. The first shipment of Covid-19 vaccine has arrived in Singapore on 21 Dec 2020.
3. The new COVID-19 Recovery Grant, which will be launched on 18 Jan 2021, focuses on lower- to middle-income workers and self-employed people.
4. Three new M³@Towns has been announced to be established in 2021. They are M³ @ Geylang Serai, M³ @ Bishan-Toa Payoh and M³ @ Jalan Besar.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
Big Data for Development: Opportunities and Challenges, Summary SlidedeckUN Global Pulse
Summary points from UN Global Pulse White Paper "Big Data for Development: Opportunities & Challenges." See: http://www.unglobalpulse.org/BigDataforDevelopment
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
Budget 2021 provides a suite of measures to create a vibrant economy with good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans and business; cohesive society with a strong social compact and community spirit; welcoming and sustainable home for generations to come; and fiscal and social reserves to enable continued stability and progress.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The Singapore Budget will continue to provide support for sectors that face difficulties amid the Covid-19 pandemic and help Singaporeans manage concerns over the cost of living.
• Lower-income groups will benefit the most from the comprehensive set of measures laid out in the Budget to help everyone cope with the cost of living.
• National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and MENDAKI sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help Malay-Muslim workers boost skills and employability.
If you wish to defer paying taxes on some of those profits you may wish to consider entering into a Section 1031 Exchange in lieu of a traditional sale when possible. Learn more about section 1031 exchanges in this presentation.
DPS Software : Case Management SystemsDPS Software
DPS Outlook Office is a scalable and modular case management system fully integrated to and operating seamlessly within Microsoft Outlook™. Entire case histories and procedures are located in one central, easy-to-use practice management solution. For more information about legal software visit now @ http://www.dpssoftware.co.uk
Influence of budgetary allocation on performance of youth group project in th...oircjournals
The need to empower youth for a better tomorrow is connected both, to the financial elevation as well as increment of the standard of living. Therefore, the study sought to establish the influence of budgetary allocation on performance of youth group project in the county government of Uasin Gishu. The study was guided by budget theory. The study employed the use of survey design in order to accomplish the research objectives. The accessible population for the study was 375 representatives of different youth groups and 65 officials of devolved fund initiative in Uasin Gishu County. Sample size was computed using the Fishers formula. Proportionate sampling was applied to select respondents. The researcher employed the use of questionnaire and interview schedule to collect data from participants. This study used descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics were done using frequency percentages, means and standard deviation of each variable. The coefficient of variation were used where data were skewed. Correlation and regression were used to show the relationship between the dependent variable and the whole group of independent variables. The results of the study were presented using Tables and figures. The study found that budgetary allocation has a positive and a significant influence on performance of youth group project in the county government of Uasin Gishu (β1=0.154, p<0.05). The study concluded that the amount disbursed to youths is equally distributed and done in time. Funds disbursements are based on projects types and the youth can compete competitively by accessing enough amount of money to finance their businesses. The study recommends that the training programs on entrepreneurship should be enhanced and be made compulsory before the group is funded. This will ensure that the youth will be able to make the right decision on investments as well as on proper accounting of their financial resources.
ABSTRACT:Gender issues prevail today in everyone’s daily life. Both males and females face some sort of
gender discrimination often, through media, communication, and education. However, existing stereotypes have
created a huge gender gap where females generally receive less support than males academically, financially,
and even physically. As a result, there exist many factors that might influence gender-related matters. This paper
focuses on a fundamental concept which plays a prominent role in relation to women’s independence on both
the economic and health-related levels. The Pink tax concept is an additional fee that females are obliged to pay
every day as consumers for goods and services that are comparable to similar or identical products for males.
The aim of this paper is to explore ways in which the effects of Pink taxation on the societal, economic, and
legal levels can be mitigated and alleviated. To achieve this goal, research and interviews were conducted for
the purpose of exploring the level of awareness around the concept of the Pink tax among students at the
Lebanese American University in Beirut, Lebanon. Findings suggested that awareness levels tend to lean
towards the lower end of the spectrum among both sexes, denoting the dire need for educational and regulatory
measures to be taken. As such, recommendations should highlight the importance of stipulating new
governmental laws and regulations and amending existing ones, in addition to spreading awareness through
gender-focused education with the support of non-governmental organizations.
Keywords–gender discrimination, Pink tax, stereotypes.
Introduction
As the Jubilee administration nears the half-way mark in its term, Ipsos’ most recent survey included questions on a number of issues that are continuing to occupy public, and government, attention. In this Media Release, we cover the following in the Education sector: (1) The laptop project, (2) School-ranking, (3) Teachers’ Pay Demands.
Nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area have long struggled to find and keep affordable space in the region’s red-hot real estate market. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new array of space challenges for nonprofits. Nonprofits now face new challenges - renegotiating leases, shedding unused space, adapting spaces to meet physical distancing requirements, even expanding to meet increased demand for services. Even without the staggering economic consequences of the pandemic, the future of nonprofit workspace is in flux as many nonprofits have moved to remote working arrangements and are considering alternatives to the future of workspace.
In late 2020, in collaboration with Community Vision and the Nonprofit Displacement Project, NCG commissioned a survey to better understand how COVID-19 has impacted the operations and workspace needs of Bay Area nonprofits. NCG engaged Harder+Company Community Research to design and conduct the survey, which explored 3 core areas: how the pandemic has impacted Bay Area nonprofits’ programming and operations; impending eviction and financial concerns; and nonprofits’ future workspace plans. These findings will inform NCG and their partners as they develop strategies to support nonprofits in their current and future workspace needs.
Evaluation of the Management and Utilization of Consitituency Development Fun...iosrjce
The contribution of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) on the development of education sector
in Kenya since its inception in the year 2003 has been critical. Some studies have shown that like any other
devolved funds, CDF implementation has faced challenges in its allocation criteria, problem of equity and
influence by politicians in its allocation and disbursement. Consequently there is need to assess the awareness
and knowledge of the CDF contribution to education development. These factors inhibit the funds effectiveness
in achieving its set objectives. The purpose of this study therefore, was to evaluate the management and
utilization of Constituency Development Fund on education development in Gem constituency, Siaya District. A
survey research design was adopted for the study since one of its merits is that it aids the researcher in
collecting original data for the purposes of describing a population which is too large to observe directly. The
study target population comprised of 37,468 households, 9 chiefs, 15 CDF committee members, 125
headteachers and the District Development Officer (DDO). The study adopted multi-stage sampling technique.
At stage one; the population was stratified into heads of households, head teachers, CDF committee members,
chiefs and DDO. In stage two, a sample of 384 households was obtained at 95% level of statistical significance
using the formula n=Z2
pq/d2
. The third stage involved selection of 48 households from each of the eight Kenya
National Bureau of Statistics sampling frame using systematic sampling technique. At stage four, saturated
sampling technique was adopted to select the CDF committee members, chiefs, DDO and the headteachers
while purposive sampling technique was adopted to pick these respondents. Data were collected through
interview schedules, key informant interviews, questionnaires and photography. The data analysis was done
using SPSS and Excel computer packages. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the data so as to
enhance clarity and ease understanding of the information. Pie charts, bar, column, line graphs and tables were
used to present analysed information on various aspects of CDF.
Rubrix is a biannual newsletter with brief analytical pieces which covers recent national policies and other emerging issues affecting the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore.
Highlights:
1. The Social Sector and its Data Imperative
2. Design Thinking for the Social Good
3. Beyond Academics: Fostering 21st Century Competencies in Young Children
4. The Importance of Critical Thinking in Future Proofing our Early Learners
5. Dawn of the Smart Nation
6. Post-Budget Policy Forum: Stronger Together, Forging Ahead
Presented in “Workshop on Sharing Best Practices on Leveraging the Benefits of Artificial Intelligence on Intellectual Property Examination to Improve Efficiency and Business Process”, collaboration between APEC and Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Republic of Indonesia
Bali, 29 November 2022
Dr. Tri Widodo W. Utomo, MA
Deputy Chairperson for Policy Studies & Public Sector Innovation, National Institute of Public Administration (LAN-RI)
The Importance of Higher Education Issues in Americanoblex1
Survey respondents were asked to rate the importance of 31 higher education issues, using a five-point scale of '1' equaling "not important" to '5' equaling "very important." Respondents were directed to consider the importance of these issues for the state overall, not simply to reflect their own viewpoints or their agencies' agendas. Readers should keep in mind that our sample size is small, even though it represents nearly the entire universe of state higher education agencies. Mean scores should be treated as approximate, and small differences between items should not be over-interpreted as representing meaningful differences or trends.
The top issues in the states are:
- teacher preparation and professional development
- workforce preparation
- effectiveness and accountability
- K-16 systems/linkages between K-12 and postsecondary
- instructional technology/distance learning.
Many other issues are rated high as well, revealing the large number of "front burner" issues facing higher education today.
Perhaps most interesting, however, is how issues are shifting in importance over time. When we last collected this information in 2014, the dominant issue was adequacy of overall state financial support, reflecting lean years in state appropriations. While this issue is still an important one, it ranks relatively lower than several other issues.
Several substantive issues have grown in importance over the years. Teacher preparation has made a dramatic comeback after declining in importance since 2014. Interest in workforce development and K-16 systems have both shown gradual increases over the past decade. Effectiveness and accountability, while a more important issue area than ten years ago, ranks relatively lower today than it did in 2014. Instructional technology/distance learning, a relatively new and quite important issue in 2000, still ranks very high but is no longer as singularly dominant on the policy agenda of states. Access and diversity, rated quite high in the early part of the last decade had dropped significantly the last time we surveyed. Now this issue area is rising again in importance, most likely a result of challenges to affirmative action being made around the country and consequent concerns. Finally, it is noteworthy that in 2020, concern about faculty salaries is slightly more important than concern about faculty workload and productivity, though neither issue is currently in the top half of the list. This contrasts with the policy environment in 2014 when concern about faculty workload and productivity was significantly higher than concern about faculty salaries.
We briefly explored differences between coordinating board states and governing board states, and found that by and large, the overall patterns are similar.
Source: https://ebookschoice.com/the-importance-of-higher-education-issues-in-america/
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Singapore IB students make up half of world's perfect scorers globally, while students who sat for last year’s O level examinations set a new record, with 85.2 per cent of the cohort attaining five or more passes.
• The Singapore Institute of Technology has launched two new degree programmes in speech and language therapy, and digital communications and integrated media, while SUTD has launched a new undergraduate degree in design and AI.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat will unveil the annual Budget in Parliament on 18 Feb 2020.
Ke ipsos columbia_university_report_june_2015_pa_final_versionIpsos
The first ever Nairobi opinion poll on transportation conducted for the Center for Sustainable Urban Development of Earth Institute, Columbia University in partnership with the Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA).
This summary is based on results from Ipsos’ 1st Quarter SPEC survey of 2015 that was conducted between March 28 and April 7. It is the 9th such release. Given that the tragic attack on Garissa University College occurred on April 2, about 25% of the interviews took place after that date. However, in comparing the results obtained before and after April 2, their distribution was clearly affected more on some issues than others, or not at all. For example, the proportion of those perceiving al-Shabaab as “very much a threat” after April 2 was 14% higher than before that date. By contrast the results presented here (on issues unrelated to security, presidential approval, etc.) were not affected by that tragic attack.
This summary is based on results from Ipsos’ 1st Quarter SPEC survey of 2015 that was conducted between March 28 and April 7. It is the 9th such release. Given that the tragic attack on Garissa University College occurred on April 2, about 25% of the interviews took place after that date. However, in comparing the results obtained before and after April 2, their distribution was clearly affected more on some issues than others, or not at all. For example, the proportion of those perceiving al-Shabaab as “very much a threat” after April 2 was 14% higher than before that date. By contrast the results presented here (on issues unrelated to security, presidential approval, etc.) were not affected by that tragic attack.
This summary is based on results from Ipsos’ 1st Quarter SPEC survey of 2015 that was conducted between March 28 and April 7. It is the 9th such release. Given that the tragic attack on Garissa University College occurred on April 2, about 25% of the interviews took place after that date. However, in comparing the results obtained before and after April 2, their distribution was clearly affected more on some issues than others, or not at all. For example, the proportion of those perceiving al-Shabaab as “very much a threat” after April 2 was 14% higher than before that date. By contrast the results presented here (on issues unrelated to security, presidential approval, etc.) were not affected by that tragic attack.
Confidence Ratings: Public Officials and Independent InstitutionsIpsos
Once again, the President is ‘bested’ only by the First Lady in terms of the confidence the public has in senior officials, commissions, and non-state actors. However, his rating was affected negatively by the al-Shabaab attack at the Garissa University College.
Confidence Ratings: Public Officials and Independent InstitutionsIpsos
Among the senior government officials rated, the President again leads, with nearly half (48%) expressing “a lot of confidence” in him, significantly higher than even his Deputy (35%) in such terms.
Foreign Relations: Perceived Impact on Kenya’s DevelopmentIpsos
• US-China global super-power rivalry evident in Kenyans’ perceptions of development needs and concerns.
Introduction
As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry continues with his high-level meetings, he may be interested to know who Kenyans consider are their most valuable development partners, as well as which foreign countries outside the immediate East Africa region whose perceived interests in Kenya cause them most concern. These realities formed part of Ipsos’ most recent national survey.
Foreign Relations: Perceived Impact on Kenya’s Development Ipsos
• US-China global super-power rivalry evident in Kenyans’ perceptions of development needs and concerns.
Introduction
As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry continues with his high-level meetings, he may be interested to know who Kenyans consider are their most valuable development partners, as well as which foreign countries outside the immediate East Africa region whose perceived interests in Kenya cause them most concern. These realities formed part of Ipsos’ most recent national survey.
The Kenyan Economy: Perceptions and RealitiesIpsos
In this release, we present several findings related to the economy.
Underpinning the specific findings is the general reality that three-quarters of all Kenyan households (75%) report a total family income of Shs. 25,000 or less, with more than half of these households (44%) earning between nothing and only Shs. 10,000 (a figure which increases to 46% if those who declined/were unable to answer this question are excluded). In addition, as is seen in several of the specific findings show below, such extensive poverty takes a clear regional dimension. For example, the proportion of those in the Shs. 10,000 and below category is 56% at the Coast compared to 56% in Nairobi, more than twice.
At the same time, these income-group findings over all three Ipsos surveys since May, 2014 show no statistical change, reflecting both the static nature of income-distribution in Kenya, and the reliability of Ipsos’ survey methodology.
The Kenyan Economy: Perceptions and Realities Ipsos
In this release, we present several findings related to the economy.
Underpinning the specific findings is the general reality that three-quarters of all Kenyan households (75%) report a total family income of Shs. 25,000 or less, with more than half of these households (44%) earning between nothing and only Shs. 10,000 (a figure which increases to 46% if those who declined/were unable to answer this question are excluded). In addition, as is seen in several of the specific findings show below, such extensive poverty takes a clear regional dimension. For example, the proportion of those in the Shs. 10,000 and below category is 56% at the Coast compared to 56% in Nairobi, more than twice.
At the same time, these income-group findings over all three Ipsos surveys since May, 2014 show no statistical change, reflecting both the static nature of income-distribution in Kenya, and the reliability of Ipsos’ survey methodology.
Confident with the Principle, Critical with the Practice: Kenyans Speak Out ...Ipsos
There is overwhelming support for devolution by the public, with more than three-quarters (78%) expressing this view. This represents a considerable increase since last September, when such support was expressed by only two-thirds (69%) of all respondents.
Ipsos conducted its first quarterly SPEC survey during the period of 28th March to 7th April 2015. The topics covered in this Media Release are: (1) corruption, (2) the al-Shabaab threat, and (3) the digital migration. The questionnaire was finalized immediately after the President’s ‘State of the Nation’ address to parliament. Because the Garissa attack occurred after fieldwork had begun, no questions about this tragic event could be included. However, since about two-thirds of all field interviews had been completed by 2nd April, and the final one-quarter were conducted between 3rd and 7th April, it has been possible to compare responses on certain relevant questions by these two sections of the respondents.
Ke ipsos spec_poll_narrative_report_17_april_2015Ipsos
Ipsos conducted its first quarterly SPEC survey during the period of 28th March to 7th April 2015. The topics covered in this Media Release are: (1) corruption, (2) the al-Shabaab threat, and (3) the digital migration. The questionnaire was finalized immediately after the President’s ‘State of the Nation’ address to parliament. Because the Garissa attack occurred after fieldwork had begun, no questions about this tragic event could be included. However, since about two-thirds of all field interviews had been completed by 2nd April, and the final one-quarter were conducted between 3rd and 7th April, it has been possible to compare responses on certain relevant questions by these two sections of the respondents.
1. Page 1 of 9
Nairobi, Kenya
6th May 2015
Ipsos’ 1st
Quarter SPEC (Social, Political,
Economic and Cultural) Survey:
Fifth Media Release
Education: Public’s Feedback
Most Kenyans prefer school laboratory-centers rather than laptops for each Class 1
pupil
Jubilee and CORD supporters differ over main reason for non-implementation of
laptop project
Few expect laptop project to be implemented before next general election
18 ways identified to raise money for teachers’ demands
Most Kenyans support ranking of schools
Introduction
As the Jubilee administration nears the half-way mark in its term, Ipsos’ most recent survey
included questions on a number of issues that are continuing to occupy public, and
government, attention. In this Media Release, we cover the following in the Education
sector: (1) The laptop project, (2) School-ranking, (3) Teachers’ Pay Demands.
Most Kenyans prefer school laboratory-centers rather than laptops for each
Class 1 pupil
When it first became clear that there were challenges in implementing the laptop-per-
(standard 1)-child, Ipsos conducted a survey on this matter which found that 4 in 5 (80%)
Kenyans preferred a laptop laboratory for all students in each school. Now, one year later,
this figure is unchanged (79%), and this is so across the main political divide, with
statistically identical support for the laboratory option by both Jubilee and CORD supporters.
“Regarding the Government’s primary school laptop project, which do you prefer: that
each child is given a laptop, or that each school have a laptop laboratory for all pupils?”
(By Total, Supporters of the Main Political Parties/Coalitions)
15%
78%
6%
12%
79%
8%
17%
79%
4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Laptops for Each Standard 1 Pupil Laptop Laboratory in Every Primary
School
Not Sure
Total (n=1,964) CORD Supporters (n=624) Jubilee Supporters (n=871)
2. Page 2 of 9
In the current survey, respondents were asked the additional question as to what they think
has caused this implementation failure. Most frequently mention included insufficient funds
for the project’s cost (30%) and corruption in the procurement process (27%), followed by
the conviction that Jubilee had never been sincere about this campaign pledge (19%).
The issuance of laptops for every Standard 1 pupil in all of Kenya’s 22,000 public primary
schools was the most highly publicized promise in Jubilee’s 2013 election campaign.
Evidence of this was seen in Ipsos’ first post-election survey: 65% of respondents could
recall it, the next most memorable one being of improved health care, at 45%.
In preparation for the project, Kenya Power has actively been extending the electricity grid,
so that the proportion of primary schools connected to it has reportedly increased from 50%
to 70% since Jubilee assumed office.
Jubilee and CORD supporters differ over main reason for non-implementation
of laptop project
The basis of these competing explanations is clearer when these same responses are
correlated with political alignment. As might be expected, whereas far more Jubilee
supporters attribute this implementation failure to (the more forgivable) lack of funds than do
their CORD counterparts (37% vs. 24% - a 13% margin), while substantially more of the
latter attribute this to downright deception – a lack of commitment to honour this campaign
pledge from the start (26% vs. 14% – a 12% gap).
“What is the main reason you think the Jubilee Government has
not implemented the primary school laptop project up to now?”:
(By Total)
Insufficient Funds,
30%
Procurement
Corruption, 27%
Dishonest/No
Sincere Intention,
19%
Lack of Proper
Planning, 2%
Other (10 Mentions),
8%
DK, 14%
Base: All Respondents (n=1,964)
3. Page 3 of 9
Few expect laptop project to be implemented before next general election
Turning to expectations of the project’s eventual implementation – at least “before the next
election” – a clear majority of Kenyans (56%) have none. Even a slim majority of Jubilee
supporters express this negative view (51%) – and with only one-quarter of them (27%)
certain that it will be – even if far more CORD supporters have lost hope on this issue (66%).
Yet the fact that overall, one-quarter (25%) are uncertain whether this pledge will be fulfilled
before the next election or not suggests that a considerable proportion of Kenyans are still
hopeful about this.
“What is the main reason you think the Jubilee Government has
not implemented the primary school laptop project up to now?”:
by Total, Supporters of the Main Political Parties/Coalitions
Main Reason
Total
(n=1,964)
Jubilee Supporters
(n=871)
CORD Supporters
(n=624)
%
Difference
Insufficient Funds 30% 37% 24% -13%
Procurement Corruption 27% 28% 28% 0%
Dishonest/No Sincere Intention 19% 14% 26% +12%
Lack of Proper Planning 2% 1% 2% +1%
Other 8% 7% 8% +1%
DK 14% 12% 12% 0%
4. Page 4 of 9
In response to the apparently endless legal battles regarding the tendering process for the
provision of laptops, the Jubilee government has announced it shall abandon this (earlier
estimated) Shs. 24.6b scheme in favour of tablets. Whether this would affect the Shs.
17.58b price-tag, already set aside for the next financial year, is unclear.
In addition, it has been pointed out that such tablets have much less content-storage
capacity than laptops, suggesting that only through internet connection will they be of much
use. But such connections would constitute another substantial recurrent cost, even if the
purchase price is considerably lower. Has this also been included in the tablet-option cost
estimates? In any case, assuming that this option will actually be pursued, the public’s
opinion about this change-of-approach will be included in Ipsos’ next survey.
18 ways identified to raise money for teachers’ demands
A telephonic survey by Ipsos in October 2014 found that 78% of Kenyans support the
demands of teachers for an increase in their terms of service.
In the current survey, respondents were first asked in what ways (maximum of two) they
could think of that money could be raised by Government to meet this demand (whether they
support it or not). Some 18 proposals were offered, though none were offered by nearly one-
third of all respondents (31%). Of these, about one-in-five (22%) could not think of any ways
of raising the required funds, while the remainder either claimed that such an increase is
simply impossible (7%), or that there was no need to find more resources as enough funds
were available already (2%).
Among the specific suggestions made, most frequent were a reduction in the number of
elected officials (25%), and a reduction in the salaries and benefits of these same officials
(23%), in addition to reducing corruption (also 23%). Other main mentions were increasing
“Whatever your preference about the laptop plan, do you think it
will be implemented before the next election in 2017?”
(By Total, Supporters of the Main Political Parties/Coalitions)
19%
9%
27%
56%
66%
51%
25% 25%
21%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Total (n=1,964) CORD Supporters (n=624) Jubilee Supporters (n=871)
YES NO Not Sure
5. Page 5 of 9
VAT (13%), reducing the number of civil servants (8%), and selling off corruptly-acquired
assets (5%), though this latter suggestion would require re-possessing them first.
In terms of the Jubilee-CORD divide, only minor variations emerge on this issue, however,
though with fewer of the latter having any idea how this could be done (5%), as well as fewer
who believe any such increase is simply not possible (8% vs. 5% – a 3% gap).
“The Government says there is not enough money to increase
teachers’ pay. What are two ways you can think of that such
additional funds could be found?” (By Total)
2%
7%
22%
4%
2%
2%
5%
8%
13%
23%
23%
25%
0% 20% 40%
Enough Money Exists Already
Not Possible
DK
Other (10 Mentions)
Divert Laptop Money
Seek Donor Funding
Recover/Sell Corruptly Acquired Assets
Reduce Number of Civil Servants
Increase VAT
Reduce Salaries/Benefits of Elected Officials
Reduce Corruption
Reduce Number of Elected Officials
6. Page 6 of 9
The fact that over two-thirds of all respondents offered revenue-raising suggestions to meet
the teachers’ demands suggests how much education is valued in Kenya. Most
immediately, the primary motivation is probably to ensure that future strikes are avoided.
More generally, however, the benefits of education are deeply entrenched in the Kenyan
society. This is true not just for the students themselves and their families (as has been
seen in the moving stories of many families who had sacrificed so much for the students who
perished in the Garissa University College attack), but also the benefits which accrue to
wider community due to the very presence of schools.
This is also supported by the fact that in this same survey, it was found that 20% of all
respondents mentioned “education” as the most effective way of reducing poverty in their
localities (the fourth ‘remedy’ mentioned, after job-creation, support for agricultural/livestock
development, and infrastructure).
Whether the same citizens who support teachers’ demands would support an extended
strike – leading again to the loss of their children’s education – remains to be seen, should
such a strike occur.
In any case, with teachers’ union leaders still threatening strike action, and with donors such
as the World Bank still pressuring the Government to control recurrent (especially public
wage) expenditure, it is clear this issue will constitute a continuing challenge as Jubilee
moves into the second half of its current tenure. The second issue covered here is that of the
demand by teachers for their ‘promised-yet-delayed’ pay increase. It should be noted that
the lowest starting salary for teachers currently is only about Shs. 17,000 per month, which
they (through their unions) want raised to Shs. 50,000.
“The Government says there is not enough money to increase
teachers’ pay. What are two ways you can think of that such
additional funds could be found?”
(By Total, Supporters of Main Political Parties/Coalitions)
Measure
Total
(n=1,964)
Jubilee Supporters
(n=871)
CORD Supporters
(n=624)
%
Difference
Reduce Number of Elected
Officials 25% 25% 29% +4%
Reduce Salaries/Benefits of
Elected Officials 23% 25% 21% -4%
Reduce Corruption 23% 23% 24% +1%
Increase VAT 13% 13% 15% +2%
Reduce Number of Civil
Servants 8% 7% 9% +2%
Recover/Sell Corruptly
Acquired Assets 5% 4% 5% +1%
DK 21% 21% 16% -5%
Cannot Be Done 7% 8% 5% -3%
7. Page 7 of 9
(This compares with about Shs. 1m that MPs earn a month – even if there are only 391).
The current wage bill for teachers is some Shs. 160b, or 15% of total public expenditure.
The teachers (nearly 300,000 of them) went on strike earlier this year demanding a 60%
increase in pay, whereas the Teachers Service Commission offered only Shs. 9.3b in
allowances.
At the same time, the UN says Kenya needs about 80,000 more teachers to attain the
desired quota of 1 teacher per 35 students, and this in a situation where a recent
assessment found that only about 20% of third year students have minimal verbal and
numeric competence. As such, some critics have questioned the nation’s preparedness for
the free primary education programme (FPE) that was introduced by the NARC government
in 2003, and which led to an increase in the primary school population from 5.9m in 2003 to
nearly 10m today.
Most Kenyans support ranking of schools
The survey results reveal that few Kenyans support the recent abolition of ranking of both
primary and secondary schools with more than two-thirds doing so (71% and 70%,
respectively).
This is true for those with/without any child in either a public or private primary school (or
whether they have any child in school at all), although those with children in private schools
express slightly lower support for ranking (about 5-10% compared to other households).
This may be because any parent(s) who prepared to pay for such private education have
already assessed the chosen school’s performance-level, and is able to monitor the child
(and school’s) performance with more attention than (most) parents of children in public
schools.
“Do you support the ranking of public private primary and
secondary schools?”
(By Total, Those With/Without a Child in Public/Private/Both/Neither
Type of Schools)
71%
74%
66%
79%
69%70% 72%
64%
80%
69%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Total (n=1,964) Those With a Child in
a Public Primary
School (n=641)
Those With a Child in
a Private Primary
School (n=246)
Those With Children
in Both Types of
Schools (n=171)
Those With No
Children In School
(n=906)
Primary Schools Secondary Schools
% Saying “YES”
8. Page 8 of 9
Also, high performing schools have been said to have good resource allocation or
management although in most cases both. Competition is also considered a good thing in
general as it increases accountability and is practice in developed countries like the United
States of America where ranking of Universities is known to happen.
Controversy has surrounded the elimination of the ranking of schools based on national
results, beginning with last year’s examinations. While law-makers, teachers and other
analysts have remained divided on this issue, the Cabinet Secretary for Education has
insisted that there is “no going back” to the previous policy.
Comment:
Whether such survey findings attract the attention of policy-makers in the Education sector,
let alone whether they would consider making any change in policy in response to them,
must be left to speculation, or further exploration of this issue by approaching them directly
for their reaction.
Survey Methodology
The target population for this survey was Kenyans aged 18 years and above, of whom 1,964
living in urban and rural areas were interviewed. The margin-of-error attributed to sampling
and other random effects of this poll’s sample size is +/- 2.2 with a 95% confidence level.
The fieldwork for this survey was conducted between 28th
March and 7th
April 2015. Data
was collected through face-to-face interviews using hand held devices (smart phones). Ipsos
Limited (Kenya) funded the survey.
“Do you support the ranking of public private primary and
secondary schools?”
(By Total, Those With/Without a Child in Public/Private/Both/Neither
Type of Schools)
71%
74%
66%
79%
69%70% 72%
64%
80%
69%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Total (n=1,964) Those With a Child in
a Public Primary
School (n=641)
Those With a Child in
a Private Primary
School (n=246)
Those With Children
in Both Types of
Schools (n=171)
Those With No
Children In School
(n=906)
Primary Schools Secondary Schools
% Saying “YES”
9. Page 9 of 9
For further details on this press release please contact:
Dr. Tom Wolf Victor Rateng
Research Analyst Opinion Polls Project Manager
tpwolf1944@gmail.com victor.rateng@ipsos.com
Tel: 386 2721-33 Tel: 386 2721-33
www.ipsos.co.ke www.ipsos.co.ke