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The study aimed to understand the effect of instructional coaching on teachers' implementation of a science teaching improvement programme and whether it varies in schools of different socioeconomic statuses.

The authors conducted an experimental study. A total of 59 seventh-grade classrooms from a representative sample of public schools from the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, were provided with research-based science educative curriculum materials (ECM) as resources to improve their teaching. A randomly selected treatment group received additional instructional coaching. Coaches met one-on-one with teachers on a weekly basis, providing pedagogical support to enact the ECM. After a 12-week intervention, the authors analyzed science teaching practices as evidenced in students' notebooks. The authors used a fidelity framework to understand the programme's implementation (with and without coaching), considering its adherence, dosage and quality, and compared how it varied across schools.

While teachers in both groups used the ECM in their science lessons (i.e. with high adherence), instructional coaching almost tripled science teaching time (i.e. the dosage) but did not increase the quality of implementation (i.e. the percentage of inquiry-based science activities taught). In low socioeconomic status schools, the effect of coaching on dosage was even more intense.

This study provides robust evidence on the impact of instructional coaching on teaching improvement programmes in science in developing countries, an under researched topic. The findings may contribute to developing targeted coaching interventions considering their effectiveness in different school contexts.

Darby, M. O., Regent House, Kingsway, London, and Sidney, A. A., 22, Lodge Road, Croydon. Mirch 23, 1929, No. 9425. [Class 7 (iii).]

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate through a case study, how a tourist destination plan can contribute to the management of the destination, via the development of sustainable, coherent, integrated and efficient tourism actions.

The methodology incorporates a literature review on tourism planning and a case study, where the models and tools presented are applied to the Douro Valley region.

The Douro Valley Tourism Plan (DVTP) is based on an integrated and global perspective (by taking into consideration all the elements of the tourism system) and has been designed with the close and active involvement of the stakeholders. The goal is to ensure that all future actions will be pursued through a high commitment from the community and institutions of the region.

Aware of the interest that the Portuguese Government has in the region, as well as the financial resources that can be deployed, attracting private investment and promotion can be facilitated. These tasks, essential to the development of the region, are more easily facilitated as the DVTP gives a positive sign to the markets (investors and travel operators) and consequently to potential tourists.

The paper reports on the Douro Valley as the first destination in the World that has been assessed by the World Centre of Excellence for Destinations. The System for Measuring Excellence on Destinations, helping destinations to achieve sustainable development objectives, constitutes a tool for a better implementation of the “Douro Valley Tourism Plan” and so is an excellent example for other destinations.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of board composition on corporate social responsibility (CSR) for selected Malaysian companies in Bursa Malaysia.

The paper analyses board composition and CSR of Malaysian (family and non-family) firms using linear regression analysis.

The empirical findings indicate that non-executive directors (NEDs) and independent non-executive directors (INEDs) designate a negative relationship, while women on board indicate a positive relationship. The only variable that positively affects the level of CSR initiatives is the presence of women directors. As for family and non-family business, the main findings are: a positive relationship between NEDs and CSR initiatives in non-family business and a negative relationship between INEDs and CSR for family-controlled business.

This paper is limited only to selected companies on Bursa Malaysia over a period of two years. The paper suggests that board composition in an emerging market is relatively ineffective in improving CSR initiatives, with the exception of women on board. This is more prevalent in family business, as they do not seem to contribute toward humanizing or cultivating CSR in their companies.

This paper can be used as a reference by regulatory bodies to further investigate on the means as to how board composition can further contribute toward CSR initiatives, as these board members have inherent authorities and decision-making power. Composition and role of women directors in board needs to be further deliberated.

This paper contributes to the existing literature in terms of the roles of board composition on CSR initiatives. It further highlights the difference in the aforementioned relationship between family and non-family business.

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the control role of independent non-executive directors (INEDs) in Malaysian public listed companies (PLCs), as prescribed in the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG).The MCCG (2000) requires substantive involvement of INEDs on the audit, nomination and remuneration board sub-committees. The study also examines the effectiveness of INEDs in discharging their monitoring roles in these sub-committees.

A qualitative research design consisting of a series of interviews with board members of Malaysian-owned PLCs on the board of Bursa Malaysia was used.

Interviews with 27 company directors reveal that, due to their independence, INEDs are crucial in safeguarding the interests of smaller investors if situations arise in which shareholders’ interests may be threatened. The interviews also disclose that the audit committee possesses the most authority among the sub-committees, as it derives its power not only from the Listing Requirements but also from statute, as well as being involved in areas of the company not traditionally associated with the committee. The study also reveals the differences in opinion between executive directors and INEDs with regard to the extent of INEDs’ effectiveness.

This research utilises interviews. Generalisation may be an issue when interviews are used as the method of inquiry. In addition, the sample is not random, as access to many directors is dependent on recommendations. In addition, the respondents have been consciously selected to cover various board positions, including independent and non-independent directors.

The findings from this research suggest that INEDs are able to discharge their responsibilities in overseeing the conduct of executives and protecting the interests of investors. In addition, the interviews disclose that the effectiveness of INEDs depends on how non-executive directors view INEDs being on the board. Rather than focusing solely on their control role, INEDS are expected to have a more proactive and progressive role in ensuring sustainable growth and the expansion of the business entity.

There are limited studies using qualitative research design in investigating the effectiveness of INEDs in the control role of the board in developing countries. Prior studies were predominantly based upon the experience of Western economies.

Interest in the role of the New Zealand School Journal as an officially sanctioned publication for schools, has resulted in a number of past studies exploring its relationship to official curriculum, educational policy and wider socio‐political developments, largely in relation to the written text. This article focuses on selected visual imagery, drawing on a masters study that examined discourses of art and identity through an interdisciplinary approach. Primary sources such as the School Journal publications themselves, material from the National Archives, and the stories of illustrators (gathered through a variety of communications including oral history), contributed a range of voices to the research. This article addresses some of the themes identified in relation to post World War 2 discourses of identity seeking to construct a sense of New Zealandness in educational publications. Acknowledging the role of imagery in educational publication itself offers another voice in constructing our educational history.

At a meeting of the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington, on November 22, Councillor J. BROOKE‐LITTLE, Chairman of the Public Health Committee, brought up a report as follows:—

“Consumerism”, for want of a better description, is given to the mass of statutory control (which shows no sign of declining) of standards, trading justice to the consumer, means of redress to those who have been misled and defrauded, advice to those in doubt; and to the widespread movement, mostly in the Western world, to achieve these ends.

Chemistry as an applied science suffers from the fact that its necessarily close connection with various branches of industry is ill defined and generally very unsatisfactory in character. One result of this is that those who have made chemistry their profession find themselves more often than not in the position of having to subordinate their professional instincts to the temporary exigencies of some particular branch of trade and to find their professional status called in question and criticised by those who are not in the profession itself and who have no right to criticise.