The study was conducted to find out the impact of teachers’ associations on quality of education, at secondary level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The main objectives of the study were to find the current nature and status of teachers association, to investigate the flaws and drawbacks of current teachers’ associations, to formulate a strategy for keeping away teachers from practical politics and to create a true trade union spirit. The population of the study consisted of all the principal, teachers, association members and students at secondary level in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Targeted population was taken from five districts namely Abbotabad, Kohat, Mardan, Peshawar and Swat. The sample of the study consisted of 100 principals, 500 teachers, 100 association members and 500 students at secondary level. The primary Data was collected with the help of Questionnaires while the secondary Data was based on the study of relevant documents, books, thesis, journals, articles and review of related literature. The findings based on the statistical evidences indicated that Teachers’ Associations work for the rights of teachers, solve many problems of teachers, work for increase in salary and struggle for educational reforms. However most of them are supported by political parties for their own interest. This research proved that these Teachers’ Associations can successfully influence educational policies, educational budget, educational facilities and educational curriculum. They should solve the problems of teachers equally for the betterment of education system and for the development of society.
This study aims to (1) examine the learning outcomes of students' reading comprehension in class III SD Inpres Parang Makassar using power point media; (2) assessing the learning outcomes of students' reading comprehension in grade III SD Inpres Parang Makassar without using power point media; (3) examining the effectiveness of power point media to improve learning outcomes for reading comprehension of third grade students of SD Inpres Parang Makassar. This study used an experimental research design with a posttest only control design. The population of this research is the third grade students of SD Inpres Parang Makassar. The data that had been collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques and parametric inferential statistics type T Test that were processed using the SPSS version 20 windows computer program. The results of hypothesis testing show that (1) the value of t-count shows the number -9.708 with sig. (2 tailed) = 0.000. At the 95% significance level with 46 degrees of freedom. Because the significance value or p-value <0.005, then the null hypothesis (H0) is rejected or in other words the alternative hypothesis (H1) is accepted. Thus, it can be concluded that there is a significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores in the experimental class in the learning outcomes of students in class IIIB SD Inpres Parang Makassar. The use of power point media to improve students' reading comprehension learning outcomes of SD Inpres Parang Makassar is more effective using power point media. This can be seen from the t-test calculation of -9.708 with db = 46 at the 5% significance level. These results indicate that the price p = 0.000. The p value is less than 0.05.
The U.S.-led Global War on Terror (GWOT) has had profound implications for Pakistan as its front-line state. The alliance between the U.S. and Pakistan brought changes to socio-economic and diplomatic landscape of Pakistan. Though the U.S.-Pakistan relations underwent a revival phase in post 9/11 scenario, this coalition did not help to dispel negative perception of Pakistan in the U.S. media. Pakistan has been working closely with U.S. on military and intelligence front, but failed to raise its case at diplomatic level and correct its position in the media. With rapid technological development, the news media is considered critical in promoting national security goals. The sophisticated U.S. media having covered foreign policy issues since Vietnam War is considered critical, particularly in wars and international conflicts to promote sense of U.S. national identity. After 9/11, the U.S. through its media portrayed the same sense of unity among allies in its campaign against terrorism and positioned the country as a moral leader among nations. This study presents the media framing of Pakistan; how it is portrayed in the U.S. mainstream media and examine their stance towards U.S-Pakistan relationship after 9/11 while testing the foreign policy decision-making theory. This is done by examining the two U.S. mainstream newspapers: The New York Times and The Washington Post’s editorials from 2001-2008. The methodology has incorporated traditional quantitative method of content analysis and qualitative investigation to examine how the U.S.-Pakistan relations are projected through the dominant U.S. media frames reflecting the U.S. foreign policy towards Pakistan after 9/11. The media framing analysis has verified the media’s role within the domestic input category of foreign policy decision making theory which shows that in foreign policy making process, media contributes in shaping a foreign country’s image, thus influencing policy towards that country, while supporting its national security interests. The study also finds an independent role of the U.S. media which does not follow the U.S policy positions except major national interest, contrary to a perceived notion that media is a propaganda tool of U.S. Government. The independent role of the U.S. media is found in criticizing the U.S. Government’s support for General Musharraf’s military rule over civilian government in Pakistan; the U.S. policy in overlooking the restoration of democracy in Pakistan and positive media framing for the U.S.-India strategic partnership over Pakistan during the first eight years of alliance. The study also proposes policy level recommendations for Pakistan to enhance media’s role in national security policy and improved U.S.-Pakistan’s image through joint media ventures between the U.S. and Pakistani media outlets.