Abstract

This paper is based on a case study to investigate students’ perspectives of feedback given to support writing in Dhivehi in higher secondary education in the Maldives. The results revealed that the majority of the students were not satisfied with the feedback they received from their Dhivehi language teachers because of the ambiguity and vagueness of the feedback given to develop their writing. Oral feedback was only given to the whole class, focusing on the common errors in general. Students did not receive any individualized oral feedback to improve their writing, unless they asked for feedback. However, the few students who have sought oral feedback, and received constructive feedback, have shown progress in their writing. Therefore, this paper hopes to guide the teachers on how to improve the effectiveness of both oral and written feedback in Dhivehi writing instruction.

Keywords: Dhivehi writing, Oral feedback, Written feedback, Students’ perceptions

Abstract

This qualitative descriptive study explored the influence of Dhivehi, the first language (L1) of the Maldivian students on learning English, their second language (L2). The questions raised in this paper enabled to identify morphological, lexical and syntactic transfer errors present in the narratives written by thirty-three students at secondary level from three schools in Male’, the capital of the Maldives. Transfer Analysis was used to analyze errors present in the English narratives written by Maldivian ESL (English as a Second Language) learners. The analysis uncovered negative transfer of Dhivehi linguistic features in their written English at morphological, lexical, as well as syntactic levels. The findings provide invaluable pedagogical implications for second language learning in the Maldivian context. Thus, it is recommended that ESL teachers as well as curriculum developers in the Maldives take into consideration the possibility of the influence of students’ mother tongue or Dhivehi linguistic features on the process of learning English.

Keywords: Dhivehi influence, ESL learners, morphology, lexis, syntax

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to explore how social media is used in travel planning by Maldivian tourists, and to discern the opportunities social media presents as a marketing medium to the Maldivian tourism industry, especially in the budget hotel and local tourism segment. The research findings showed that social media postings by friends were considered a very important source of information compared to traditional sources of advertising. Online ratings and reviews of hotels also influenced their decisions significantly. Additionally, respondents preferred content posted by consumers rather than by hoteliers. Therefore, social media remains a critical element for tourism marketing to a Maldivian audience, demonstrating the importance for hoteliers and marketers to use this medium to gauge their customers’ reactions to the services offered; to modify the services to meet the expectations of their customers; and also to reach a wider customer base cheaply and efficiently. As Maldivian social media users frequently post, and are willing to post photos/videos of their holiday experiences on multiple social networking websites, it gives opportunities for marketers to involve users and influencers to promote visual content on social networking sites. Maldivian travellers rely very little on information provided by hotels in their travel decision making. Hence, further investigation is required on how to improve the trustworthiness and credibility of information provided by budget hotels as well as how this information can be accurately corroborated by users.

Keywords: Social media, local tourism, travel planning, marketing

Abstract

The research presented in this paper studied the functional linkages between risk and adaptation appraisal and the psychosocial discourse variables that influence the outcomes for adaptive capacity of island communities to the impact of climate change. Qualitative data was gathered from focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews in five, purposively selected communities of the Maldives, from June to December 2015. The findings showed that risk appraisal was enhanced by direct experiences encountered and social construction of climate change. We found that a negative appraisal of adaptation arises due to lack of resources, fatalism and wishful thinking. While objective adaptive capacity was low, a higher subjective adaptive capacity was observed. The results also showed that people’s ecological knowledge of the reef-island systems depended on their livelihood practices, and that changes to modern livelihood practices can lead to loss of deep ecological knowledge and lead to dependency on external data only for adaptation. The findings add to the research on importance of meanings, ideas, behaviours and values of people, and the agency of such variables for positive appraisal of risks and adaptation.

Keywords: adaptive capacity, risk appraisal, adaptation appraisal, climate change

Abstract

The Republic of Maldives is a small, South Asian archipelagic State consisting of low-lying islands, hence, climate change and sea level rise are not just mere words for us, the Maldivian people; they are a grim reality that is consuming our nation. The loss of a nation does not only mean the loss of home, substantial livelihood, natural wealth, and cultural identity; it also means the erosion of sovereignty and statehood at the international level. The analysis of applicable international laws and state practice indicates that the Maldives will not lose its statehood due to the loss of its territory resulting from sea level rise. The pragmatic way forward to protect the legal personality of statehood for low-lying island states such as the Maldives is to declare islands above the mean sea level, in case of complete inundation of naturally formed land, as Artificial Islands for Environmentally Displaced Persons, and to declare maritime borders established under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention as non-ambulatory.

Keywords: Sea level rise, Statehood, Artificial Islands, Environmentally Displaced Persons, Maldives.

Cultures and Organizations

Software of the Mind is one of the most influential books on the study of cross-cultural management. This book includes the authors’ research findings conducted in more than seventy countries over a forty year span and helps us to examine how we think - and how we fail to think - as members of groups.

Abstract

This paper presents an in-depth study of the livelihood practices and development needs of one isolated rural island community in the Maldives. The research identified key stakeholders concerns about opportunities and barriers to livelihood practices and community development using a case study approach. Some of the challenges networking locally and nationally to achieving community objectives for food security, water and other resources management, socio-economic development and environmental protection are identified, followed by strategies to reduce vulnerability in the context of climate change and to develop a sustainable ecosystem for future generations.

Keywords: Small island state, Food, Water, Energy, Livelihood, Climate change, Nexus

Abstract

The Maldives is in the midst of a demographic window of opportunity, with a large share of the population comprised of children and young adults. Youth account for about 40 per cent of the Maldivian population, and the dependency ratio has shown declines in the most recent national census. The country’s success in reaping the demographic dividends of this 'youth boom', in terms of social and economic development, is arguably refl ected in the level of positive youth engagement in the community. However, there is a growing concern that Maldivian youth feel, and are perceived to be, socially and economically disenfranchised and idle. Based on an ongoing qualitative research study on everyday changes and everyday lives in Maldivian communities, this paper discusses the high level of youth engagement in community development and livelihood activities in a small island community. Various qualitative research methods including interviews and observations were used in the research. The signifi cance of factors such as parenting, role models in the community, community size,schooling, mentors, family structure and responsibilities, level of development of the island and types of economic opportunities available, which may contribute to higher levels of youth engagement, are explored.

Keywords: Youth, Demographic dividend, Community development, Maldives

Abstract

While the Maldives is heavily dependent on its reef environments, rapid economic development is creating adverse impacts on these marine ecosystems. In an eff ort to explore alternative forms of resource management, this paper presents sacred beliefs that have guided the way traditional Maldivian communities have used, managed and governed their reef resources. The findings of this qualitative study, conducted in seven island communities of the Maldives, show that beliefs such as the Islamic concept of Rizq, humans as stewards of the earth and sentient non-human beings, drove traditional resource use and management practices. “Progress” in a globalised world has meant that nature has become part of the secular. We argue that there is a need to re-integrate the sacred into our resource management as this can potentially contribute to ongoing environmental conservation efforts.

Keywords: Sacred beliefs, Rizq, Reef resources, Maldives.

Abstract

Modernisation and urbanisation has come at a cost to Maldivian children, making them more vulnerable to social ills and psychological diseases. Life Skills Education (LSE) has been integrated into the 2014 Maldives National Curriculum as a way to avert the emotional and psychological crises of children growing up in a rapidly changing society. Rather than questioning how this new initiative is introduced within the curriculum and the possible outcomes of the initiative, this paper aims to explore how knowledgeable and prepared the teachers believe they are to teach Life Skills to children.

A cross sectional survey was completed by 186 teachers of two schools of Male’, Maldives. Life Skills Education has been taught in some form in both schools since 2004. Four factors linked to teacher preparedness were analysed, namely: (1) teachers’ attitude to LSE; (2) teachers’ motivation to implement LSE; (3) teachers’ perceived professional mastery; and (4) participation in ongoing professional development, all of which have direct impact on successful implementation of Life Skills Education. All four factors have strong correlation to successful implementation of Life Skills Education. Only 13% of the teachers in this study indicated that they believed they had the capacity to deliver Life Skills Education in the curriculum fully.

This study identified the urgent need for LSE to be incorporated into initial teacher training and for policy makers and school leaders to ensure that teachers have ongoing effective support to develop life skills of vulnerable children who live in challenging home environments.

Abstract

This paper presents findings of a case study of the regulatory framework of quality assurance (QA) in higher education in the Maldives. For this study, a systems approach was adopted to capture a holistic perspective of the various key elements and their relationships to each other to investigate the effectiveness of the regulatory framework in the quality assurance system. The data collection consisted of document analysis and interviews with four key stakeholder groups. Some of the unique challenges in developing and establishing a fully-functioning regulatory mechanism of quality assurance for higher education in the Maldives include lack of independence of the system from the Ministry of Education and influence of other key stakeholders on the decision making process of the quality assurance system. Absence of a legal mandate to ensure that outcomes of regulatory processes are accepted by the government, the public and the higher education system is unique to the Maldives where the quality assurance system has been in operation since 2010, while it holds no legal status or independence. Whilst the case study is situated in the Maldives, it provides a useful reference for policy makers, practitioners and professionals in other small states.

Abstract

The research presented in this paper aims to (1) provide insights into how older people living in Male’ perceive ageing and (2) how families and the wider community meet the care needs of older people. Eight people who are in the age group of 65 to 70 year olds, living in Male’, were interviewed for the present study. The results indicated that the participants preferred to live with their children and appreciated the level of care given by their children. Lack of modified homes, adapted built environments and suitable housing for families living with elderly parents means that healthy older adults’ level of physical activities, social interaction and independence are limited. Unavailability of environmental, social and health support services that are dedicated towards elders negatively influenced their perspective of ageing. While some of the participants showed resilience and adapted to the circumstances, others perceived the physical and social barriers to ageing with fear and restricted their physical activities and social interactions.

Important aspects of ageing and the availability of support are discussed with implications for self, family, community and for policy makers.

Abstract

The research presented in this paper focused on studying the factors that influence writing in English among a group of secondary school students in Male’, Maldives. Face-to-face interviews and a self-administered questionnaire were employed for data collection. The findings revealed that motivational factors such as self-efficacy, interest, and attitude of students affected students’ performance in writing. Also, subject knowledge, composition skills, and the context of writing such as time allocation, classroom setting, and examination oriented teaching were primary factors which hindered students’ writing. These factors which hinder students to write are blended with research on self-efficacy to discuss strategies to develop competence and confidence in writing among adolescents struggling with writing in a second language.

Abstract

Supply chain management (SCM) practices have become a key determinant of competitive advantage of business enterprises. Effectively carried out supply chain management practices provide a strategic improvement to supply chain performance and thereby increases the performance of companies. The present study examines the dimensions of supply chain management components (practices, competences, and concerns) and their relationship to supply chain performance. Data was collected from 250 medium and small enterprises of Madurai District in Tamil Nadu, between December 2016 and July 2017. The enterprises were selected using simple random sampling. The relationship between supply chain management components and supply chain performance was investigated using structural equation modeling. The resulting model indicated that supply chain management practices, competence, and concerns have a direct, positive impact on supply chain performance. Recommendations for improving operational capability are provided accordingly.

Abstract

This paper provides technical aspects and the context of recognising Dhivehi characters using Tesseract OCR Engine, which is a freely available OCR engine with remarkable accuracy and support for multiple languages. The experiments that were conducted showed promising results with 69.46% accuracy and, more importantly, highlighted limitations that are unique to Dhivehi. These issues have been discussed in detail and possible directions for future research are presented.

Keywords: Dhivehi OCR, Thaana Script, Optical Character Recognition, Tesseract OCR.

Abstract

Numerous factors affect the academic achievement of students as they undergo the transition of proceeding to secondary grades. This article discusses the findings related to factors affecting the academic achievement of secondary grade students from the students’ perspective. A qualitative study was conducted at a secondary school with a sample of students who had experienced a decline in their performance in secondary grades. Respondents were queried with regard to various factors relating to their academic achievement. Issues relating to student motivation were highlighted as the most prominent factors affecting their academic achievement. The findings revealed that students’ lack of motivation was the consequence of unvaried and ineffective methodologies adopted by most teachers in delivering the lessons.

Keywords: academic achievement, secondary grades, factors, motivation, teaching methodology

Abstract

Students’ attitude towards algebra is important in deciding the factors that influence students’ achievement in algebra as well as mathematics learning. This is a quantitative study which has explored the algebra attitudes of eighth grade students. The study population included students from two main schools in Male’ who were selected using stratified random sampling. One component of the Fennema Sherman Mathematics Attitudes Scale and three components of the Attitude Towards Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) by Tapia and Marsh were used to survey the algebra attitudes of 39 boys and 45 girls in grades eight. The results show that the learners have a neutral attitude for the components of the attitude towards algebra as well as for the total attitude and that there is no gender difference in their attitude.

Abstract

Interaction in online learning is becoming quite common in higher education. Online communication tools are thought to promote student-centred learning and encourage wider student participation as well as provide an important learning opportunity for students. This paper presents a study based on a survey of seventeen students regarding perceptions on the usefulness of online communication, analysed through an interactive discussion structure with selected synchronous and asynchronous communication tools. The article considers student feedback on the new interactive discussion structure provided to them and compares the level of participation between the old structure and the new structure. The results show that there was a significant increase in the level of participation in the new structure. However, it also indicates that simply providing an interactive discussion structure does not mean that it will be used effectively. Several other factors were related to actual participation and perceived usefulness of the structure.

Abstract

Implementing differentiated instruction is a national policy and to ensure that it is implemented in schools, external supervisors carryout supervision and evaluation of classroom instruction based on this approach. Differentiated instruction (DI) is recommended to close the academic gap among learners. This quantitative cross-sectional survey is designed to find out teacher understanding and implementation of differentiated instruction, with the aim of identifying the professional development needs of teachers in this area. The descriptive statistics and t.tests conducted showed that the teachers have a statistically significant level of understanding of all the DI components but implementation of all the components was not statistically significant. This study has shown that the training teachers receive in differentiated instruction have a positive impact on their understanding and implementation of this teaching pedagogy. To enhance differentiated instruction carried out in schools, teachers need to get the right professional development training. This study has shed light on areas for teachers’ development in understanding and implementation of differentiated instruction.

Keywords: Differentiated instruction, understanding, implementation, content, process, products

Abstract

This article explores the issue of whether a reflective culture is a necessary condition for sustaining action research in the Maldives. Drawing on data gathered for a study conducted in the Maldives and supplemented by a discussion of literature on the appropriateness of AR in developing countries, I consider why AR might be useful for professional development in the Maldives. As in many developing country contexts, there are many practical difficulties, such as time constraints that can prevent teachers from engaging in AR. However, the main focus of this article is to reflect whether it is simply a case of the absence of a reflective culture or AR itself that may be acting as a barrier to teacher engagement in it. Based on these findings, I argue that familiarity with reflective practices in teaching may be a prerequisite to the development of AR in the Maldives, and therefore, it may be that introducing the notion of reflective practice into initial teacher training is the first step. I also argue that it is important to carefully and critically consider the assumptions and practices within AR and adapt it for use as a professional development tool.

Identifiers /Key words: Action research (AR), developing countries, reflective practice,Maldives