Abstract: Wet direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an attractive alternative to transplanted rice, as it saves the drudgery of raising seedlings and transplanting, reducing labor and cost of cultivation. As direct-seeded rice stays in the field for a longer duration than transplanted rice so weed control remains one of the major challenges for its success. A field experiment was conducted at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh during Boro season of 2013-14, to evaluate effectiveness of different weed management practices; weedy, hand weeding and other practices with pre and post-emergence herbicides; Bensulfuran methyl + Acetachlor and Pyrazosulfuran ethyl on the performance of direct-seeded rice. Results showed that yield and yield attributing parameters and weed dynamics were significantly affected and the trend of higher production and lower weed dynamic in different growing stage of direct-seeded rice was obtained. Irrespective of weed management options, hand weeding (5.21 t ha-1), pre with post emergence herbicide (5.15 t ha-1), post emergence herbicide with one supplement hand weeding (5.02 t ha-1) and pre emergence herbicide with one supplement hand weeding (4.95 t ha-1) produced significantly higher yield, while lowest yield was recorded in control plots (3.54 t ha-1).

Abstract: Islam as a religion is based on knowledge acquisition recognizes the importance of recordkeeping and management, which is signified in the first five verses of the Holy book of Islam, the Qur’an. This paper overviews the origin of recordkeeping and management in Islam. It highlights the purposes of recordkeeping and management in Islam, as well as the challenges faced in recordkeeping and management in the era of Information and Communication Technologies. It concludes by offering some suggestions on improving recordkeeping and management in Islam.

Abstract: The objective establishes the perceptual constraints of adult learners on the implementation of adult basic education programs. The study used descriptive survey research design and was based on the conceptual framework embracing four main theories namely: - Adult learning theory, Mezirow’s Theory of Perspective Transformation, Systems Theory and Reference Group Theory. The units of analysis were 424 Adult Education Learning Centres. The study population was 7104 adult education Learners. The targeted populations were 2304 Learners. The researcher used both Stratified and saturated random sampling to pick out a corresponding sample. The instruments of data collection were questionnaires, interviews and document analysis. Reliability of the instruments was addressed through piloting in one adult education centre and reliability co-efficient of 0 .745 which indicated that the instruments were reliable were obtained by subjecting the instruments to a Split-half Technique and Spearman “Brown Prophesy Formula”. Data was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings show that if 2.92 (58.40%) of learners were asked to pay for adult education studies, he/she would gladly do so. Adult education programs suffer from stigmatization and hence potential learners find it almost an embarrassment to be involved in the program as attested by the score of 3.35 (67.04%). When an adult learner listens to what others say about adult education the adult learner felt encouraged to continue with the program. Every effort should be done by all the stakeholders in adult and continuing basic education to either reduce or get rid of the stigma associated with adult education since this affects both the learners and those that are charged with its supervision and monitoring.

Abstract: This study general objective was to examine the influence of business risks in accessing of credit by small business producer group in Trans Nzoia County. The study specifically aimed at investigating the effect of business risk identification on access of credit by small business groups in Trans Zoia County, to investigate if business risk influences access of credit and to establish the effect of business risk monitoring on access of credit by small business groups in Trans Zoia County, Kenya The research used cross sectional design while data were collected through in-depth personal interviews administered through open-ended interview guides (Appendix I) to 54 chairpersons from 54 SBPGs and content analysis used to analyze data collected from the interviews. The study found that credit access is largely influenced by business risk and specifically the following risks; financial, strategy, operations, compliance and reputations. The study concludes that it is of general realization that SBPGs face business risk challenges in accessing the credit to develop their businesses. The research recommended the government, MFIs and social investors to come in to support the small businesses through trainings and capacity building.

Abstract: This study investigated the impact of head teachers’ support in implementing the guidance and counseling programme (GCP) in schools for the hearing-impaired pupils in the counties of Nakuru, Nairobi, Kiambu and Machakos. These counties have a total population of 776 pupils, 90 teachers and 9 head teachers. Pupils in class six to eight who comprised 243 were selected for the study. This ex-post facto descriptive survey used self-administered questionnaires and interview guide for data collection. A pilot study preceded the main study to ascertain the reliability of the questionnaire items. Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha method was used to measure the internal consistency of items. The results yielded reliability co-efficient of 0.77, 0.70 and 0.71 for the pupils’ questionnaire, teacher counselors’ questionnaire and head teachers’ questionnaire respectively. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used to analyse the data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings revealed that the head teachers did not offer adequate support to the guidance and counseling programme and this coupled with challenges facing teacher counselors makes the guidance and counseling programme not to achieve the intended purposes. The study recommends that Head teachers provide required resources for the guidance and counseling programme to ensure full implementation and purpose to create awareness to teachers and parents with hearing impaired child on the importance of collaborating with them in ensuring overall development of the children through the guidance and counseling programme.