Textbook Affordability in the Time of COVID-19

Abstract

This article provides a background of the textbook affordability problem affecting students attending United States higher education institutions, both prior to and during the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as potential solutions to the problem. Solutions discussed include the availability of open materials in online repositories, publisher responses like inclusive access, institutional incentive programs, and initiatives by library consortia or other statewide programs. The responses of various stakeholders to make textbooks accessible to students during the pandemic are also covered.     

Inclusive education policy provision in South African research universities

The 4-A Framework suggests that all inclusive education systems must be available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable. South Africa is committed to establishing an inclusive education system that does not exclude students with disabilities. South African university disability policies translate the imperatives of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into institutional mandates that govern the implementation of inclusive education. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent disability policies at South African research-intensive universities addressed the markers contained in the 4-A Framework. The framework was reworked and operationalised for the higher education context, and expanded to include a fifth marker, namely affordability. A deductive thematic analysis, using a protocol based on the five markers, was used to analyse these policies. Results indicate that, of the five markers, affordability was not sufficiently addressed. Various disclaimers also limit policy provisions related to other markers.     

Factors that influence elementary school teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion of visually impaired children in Turkey

There is a scarcity of research on inclusion of visually impaired children in Turkey. Specifically, a gap exists concerning the attitudes of elementary school teachers towards the inclusion of visually impaired children in mainstream schools. This article uses data from two questionnaires, leveraging the responses of 253 teachers from rural and urban areas. The results demonstrate that elementary school teachers commonly hold positive attitudes towards the inclusion of visually impaired children and that teachers’ initial and in-service training about inclusion positively influenced their attitudes. Our findings are in contrast with earlier research which argues that teachers do not hold positive attitudes to inclusion, and highlights that a key barrier to inclusion stems from elementary school teachers feeling unprepared to teach visually impaired children. We conclude that greater post-qualification training is required to enable teachers to operationalise different approaches that facilitate the inclusion of visually impaired children.     

A qualitative study on participants’ perceptions of child development accounts in Korea

ABSTRACT

In 2007, Korea implemented Child Development Accounts (CDAs) for institutionalised children in child welfare systems. Since then, the target group and a matching cap of CDAs in Korea have evolved. The target group expanded to include poor children receiving welfare, whereas the matching cap increased from KRW 30,000 (US$26.53) to KRW 40,000 (US$35.38), which is matched at a 1:1 rate. Despite the expansion, there is little empirical evidence examining the extent to which CDAs have influenced the life of participants. Using a content analysis method with a sample (N = 22), this study examines how CDAs have changed children’s mindsets, saving habits, education, future planning and sponsorship. The findings suggest that CDAs have multiple positive influences on children. This study concludes with policy implications for the inclusive and progressive development of CDAs in Korea.     

地方政府推进城镇小区配套幼儿园治理的政策与反思——基于27 份省级政策文本分析

以27 份省级的城镇小区配套幼儿园治理文本为对象，采用内容分析法，按照“治理要求”、“治理任务”、“治理步骤”和 “治理措施”四个维度，进而形成编码表并归类政策文本的具体内容。借助NVivo-12 质性分析软件对政策文本进行处理，进而 探究地方政府城镇小区配套幼儿园治理文本的内容结构及其存在问题。研究发现：治理方案趋同性强、地方性不足；治理过程 泛化、对治理的现实问题认识不够；治理周期迅速、但治理效果有待评估；治理措施系统、但操作性不强；治理主体多元，但协作 水平不高。在此基础上提出地方政府推进城镇小区配套幼儿园治理方面的建议：重视地区差异，促使治理贴切地方实际；加强 治理措施的可操作性，细化分类精准施策；明晰前期整改结果，强化治理效果的后期评估；学习协同治理观念，提高多部门协作 水平。     

团队认知多样性、知识共享与团队创新绩效——基于包容性领导的调节效应检验

基于对86个团队的实证调查,探讨团队认知多样性对团队创新绩效的影响,并检验知识共享和包容性领导在以上关系中所起的中介作用和调节作用,层次回归分析结果表明：1）团队认知多样性对团队创新绩效有显著正向影响;2）团队知识共享部分中介了这一正向关系;3）包容性领导对此中介过程有显著的正向调节作用,包容性领导越高,该中介作用越强,反之则不显著。得到的管理启示有：1）为应对创新发展的挑战,团队应考虑员工构成的多样性;2）在团队管理中,领导要能包容成员的认知多样性。     

Leaving a licensed boarding house: transcending trans-institutionalisation with person-centred transitions

While de-institutionalisation set out with the laudable aim to improve the quality of life of people with disability, the untethering of accommodation from support services has in some cases led to less than desirable outcomes. Poor regulation of for-profit boarding houses licensed to care for people with disability has led to the exploitation and abuse of some of Australia’s most vulnerable and marginalised people. Recognition of this, and a number of other factors, has led to the closure of many of New South Wales’ licensed boarding houses. This research presents the experiences of 15 former residents of licensed boarding houses and their supporters spanning from their time as a resident, the transition to other accommodation and their quality of life post transition. While finding the transition challenging, almost all of the former residents identified improvements in their lives since leaving the boarding house.     

包容性增长下的公共经济与民间经济关系优化

包容性增长与优化公共经济与民间经济关系具有内在统一性。我国公共经济存在缺位、越位现象,民间经济遭受发展环境与自身竞争能力双重约束,二者之间互动和支持力度不够。产生这些问题的原因主要是中国现阶段生产力水平整体不高且不平衡、公共经济体制不健全、转型期政府职能伸缩、传统产权制度弊端等,而解决这些问题的现实路径就是要定位公共经济与民间经济的发展空间、完善经济调整机制、规范产权关系、营造和谐的发展环境。     

中西部地区县域经济的包容性增长——以云南昆明寻甸县为例

县是国家政权结构的基本单元,国家政权行使和行政管理的基础,县对上是宏观经济政策的贯彻者和执行者,对下是县域经济和社会发展的组织者和操作者。县域经济是以县级政权为调控主体,以发展本地经济为宗旨的区域性经济,实施县域经济包容性增长"双向三化一体"发展路径,必将历史性地一揽子解决集多民族、山区、贫困为一体的广大中西部扶贫开发地区的社会经济发展问题。