Volume 12, number 2, December 2024
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Item Does context make a difference? School Leaders’ Perceptions of School Closures across the Maldives during COVID-19(The Maldives National University, 2024-12) Fikuree, Waseema; ވަސިމާ ފިކްރީContextual features are crucial elements to consider in any decision-making process regarding a school’s teaching and learning processes. However, a lack of attention to specific contextual features is evident in educational policy decision-making. A qualitative case study across the Maldives revealed that school leaders’ primary concerns were students’ safety, completing the syllabus or curriculum, and the lack of consideration for a school’s context. The participants highlighted the importance of acknowledging the contextual realities of individual schools and involving stakeholders to make effective decisions regarding school operations. These findings have implications for educational policy decision-making, particularly under unprecedented circumstances.Item A Review of the Biology and Ecology of the Invasive Giant African Snail (Achanita fulica): Its Impact on Horticulture Crops and Effective Pest Management(The Maldives National University, 2024-12) Abdulla, Nadhiya; ނާދިޔާ އަބްދުއްﷲTerrestrial gastropods, such as snails and slugs, pose a significant threat to the global agriculture due to their adaptive nature. The giant African snail (Achanita fulica), introduced to the Maldives, thrives tropical climate, with high reproduction capacity, feeding on over 500 types of plants. In Laamu Atoll, Maldivian farming communities are struggling to control this pest, which is causing a significant damage to crops such as cucurbits, papaya, leafy vegetables, and banana plants. Despite various intervention initiatives by government agencies, including cultural, chemical and biological methods, the pest remains a serious problem. This review aims to integrate information on the bio- ecology of the giant African snail, the nature of damage it causes, and the favorable factors for its proliferation, with special emphasis on effective management tactics of this particular gastropod pest focusing on Maldivian context. It also proposes a collective pest management model to effectively manage the control of giant Africa snail.