Volume 2, number 1, June 2014
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Item Knowledge is wisdom? : observations from primary classrooms in the Maldives(Postgraduate Research Centre, MNU, 2014-06-01) Fittell, DavidItem ދިވެހި ބަހާ މެދު ދިވެހި ޒުވާނުންގެ ވިސްނުން ހުރީ ކިހިނެއްތޯ(Postgraduate Research Centre, MNU, 2014-06-01) AbdulRaheem, Ismail Habeeb; އިސްމާއީލް ހަބީބު ޢަބްދުއްރަހީމްThe aim of this research is to understand how Maldivian youth view Dhivehi language. This research used a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. A survey questionnaire was administered to 200 youth under 35 years. In addition, focus group interviews were used to obtain in-depth perceptions. The questions used explore the usage of Dhivehi and external influences on the language, importance given and the general attitudes of youth towards Dhivehi. The findings show that the usage of Dhivehi is declining with more people opting to use English. Some of the identified factors influencing this change were economy and trade, local policies on language use and globalization. It is recommended that changes need to be brought out in education policies to promote Dhivehi language. In addition, local policies on language use need to be strengthened and the use of Dhivehi language needs to be promoted, especially using today’s technological advances.Item The impact of theory and research on three ESL teachers’ beliefs and practices(Postgraduate Research Centre, MNU, 2014-06-01) Mohamed, NaashiaAn increasing number of research studies report on improved and alternative approaches to the various practices of teaching. However, there often exists a gap between such research findings and any real transformations in pedagogical practices of teachers. This paper reports on a study that examined the impact of theory and research on the beliefs and practices of three English as a second language (ESL) teachers. The study aimed to evaluate possible factors that influence teachers’ resistance to change in pedagogies supported by educational research by taking form focused instruction (FFI) as a model approach for testing. Based on interview and observation data, the results indicate that teachers’ responses to the literature were framed by their existing beliefs about FFI. Teachers were seen to generally agree with theories and research findings that supported their own beliefs while rejecting the pedagogical usefulness of findings that differed from their own beliefs. The study suggests that to reduce the gap between research and pedagogy, it may be useful for professional development providers to use publications that report on current theory and research when working closely with practising teachers so as to make the findings more accessible and relevant to teachers’ own contexts and needs.Item Online journalism : a case study of interactivity of mainstream online news websites of the Maldives(Postgraduate Research Centre, MNU, 2014-06-01) Rafeeq, AliInternet has emerged as a hybrid-publishing platform. Thus, communication technologies are challenging the linear print journalism format with interactive devices turning online journalism into a rich media environment. While communication technologies have enabled publishers and media producers to use numerous interactive features in the constructed presentation of online news, few news websites in the Maldives are maximizing such features. This study, based on a content analysis of three mainstream news websites, develops an interactivity index and examines the interactive features of the news websites and analyses how news is presented and to what extent the various publications differ in their application of interactive devices in online journalism. The findings show that the news websites did not fully utilize and enhance interactive features in online journalism.Item Historical institutionalism in the Maldives : a case of governance failure(Dhivehi Bahaai Thareekhah Khidhumaikuraa Qaumee Marukazu, 2014-06-01) Rasheed, Athaulla A.; އަތައުﷲ އ. ރަޝީދްThis article explains the problem of governance in the Maldives in terms of how weak historical institutions embedded in the present political system have limited the government’s capacity to govern for the development of the broader society. This is done in light of the argument that the Maldives has experienced problems with development, especially within key socio-economic areas including health, education and community-based economic activities, despite the development achieved with its booming tourism industry during the 1980s–2000s. Using the present literature on development and governance, the article shows that this underdevelopment has been caused by a failure to achieve good governance of economic resources. Through a historical-institutional evaluation of the politico-institutional developments during the 1880s–1960s, this article explains that the Maldives acquired weak historical institutions that may have been transmitted through time to become embedded in the present political system and reduced the government’s capacity to govern efficiently. It is argued that the institutional foundations were based on undemocratic constitutional rules, created and shaped by the past monarchical political practice, and that these historically transmitted rules have reduced the government’s capacity to govern effectively leading to the problems with development experienced by the Maldives today.Item Editorial(Postgraduate Research Centre, MNU, 2014-06-01) Mohamed, Mizna