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Factors Influencing General Science Performance of Female Students in Grade 7 at Rimeti Primary School, West Harerge, Ethiopia Ashenafi Taye Negewo; Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Britain International of Linguistics Arts and Education (BIoLAE) Journal Vol 8 No 1 (2026): Britain International of Linguistics, Arts and Education - March
Publisher : Britain International for Academic Research (BIAR) Publisher

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/biolae.v8i1.1426

Abstract

This study explores the impact of teacher practices and classroom dynamics on the science performance of 75 Grade 7 female students at Rimeti Primary School, conducted in July 2024/25. Utilizing a two-way ANOVA on simulated test score data, the research assessed the effects of interactive versus traditional teaching methods and collaborative versus competitive classroom environments. Results revealed significant main effects for teacher practices (F (1, 96) = 30.56, p = 2.78e-07), with interactive methods yielding higher mean scores (72.15) compared to traditional methods (61.95), and classroom dynamics (F (1, 96) = 18.12, p = 4.82e-05), where collaborative settings outperformed competitive ones. The interaction effect was non-significant (F (1, 96) = 0.02, p = 0.885), indicating independent contributions. A box plot visually confirmed these trends, showing elevated medians for Interactive/Collaborative groups. These findings suggest that interactive teaching and collaborative dynamics independently enhance science achievement, with teacher practices explaining greater variance (1621.66 sums of squares) than dynamics (961.69). Limitations include the use of simulated data and a single-gender focus, restricting generalizability. The study aligns with social constructivist and cooperative learning theories, advocating for pedagogical innovation in under-resourced settings. Recommendations include teacher training in interactive methods and fostering collaborative classrooms, supported by resource allocation and further longitudinal research. This research provides a foundation for improving science education for female students in similar contexts.
Saint Yared’s Cosmic Harmony: Music, Astronomy, and Philosophy in 6th-Century Ethiopia Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 12 No 4 (2025): Konfrontasi, December
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/konfrontasi2.v12i4.357

Abstract

Saint Yared, a 6th-century Ethiopian composer, pioneered musical notation with his melekket system and Deggua antiphonary, yet his interdisciplinary contributions remain underexplored in global scholarship. This study investigates Yared’s integration of music, astronomy, and philosophy, aiming to reposition his legacy within world musicology and intellectual history. Methods: Employing qualitative methods, the research analyzes Ge’ez manuscripts, ethnomusicological recordings, and historical records through textual interpretation, comparative analysis, and thematic synthesis. It examines Deggua’s seasonal structure, the theological underpinnings of Yared’s modes (Ge’ez, Ezel, and Araray), the melekket system’s synthesis, Aksumite and Nine Saints’ influences, and Yared’s global context. Yared’s Deggua aligns with celestial cycles, reflecting astronomical knowledge, while his modes embody Trinitarian theology and Neoplatonic harmony. The notation predates European systems, integrating diverse disciplines shaped by Aksumite traditions and Byzantine thought via the Nine Saints. His work challenges Eurocentric narratives, predating Guido d’Arezzo and paralleling Boethius. Yared emerges as a visionary whose cosmic harmony unites science, art, and faith, affirming Ethiopia’s role in early intellectual history and warranting broader recognition. His contributions prefigure medieval developments, enriching global understanding of musicology’s origins. Future research should digitize Yared’s works, compare them with Asian notations, and integrate his legacy into educational curricula to enhance preservation and appreciation.
Misconceptions in Electrochemistry among 11th- and 12th-Grade Students in Dire Dawa and Harari, Ethiopia: Causes, Effects, and Strategies Melaku Masresha Woldeamanueal; Belay Sitotaw Goshu
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 12 No 4 (2025): Konfrontasi, December
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/konfrontasi2.v12i4.358

Abstract

Misconceptions in electrochemistry (ECT), such as believing electrons flow through the salt bridge, persist among students, influenced by didactic teaching, weak prior knowledge, and misleading resources. These errors vary across educational programs, impacting academic performance. This study aimed to examine school-specific ECT misconception rates and scores among 360 students from the Diploma in Design and Construction (DDC), Engineering and Operations Diploma (EOD), and Health and Social Sciences (HSS) programs, identifying contributing factors and proposing interventions. Data were collected via assessments and interviews (N = 30). Misconception prevalence (e.g., salt bridge error) and mean scores were analyzed for each group: DDC (65%, M = 26.2), EOD (75%, M = 24.1), and HSS (64%, M = 27.3). Interview responses highlighted didactic teaching (90–100%) and prior knowledge gaps (80–90%). Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis informed findings. EOD showed the highest misconception rates (75%) and lowest scores (M = 24.1), linked to resource scarcity and 100% didactic teaching. DDC had moderate rates (65%) and scores (M = 26.2), tempered by 90% of didactic methods despite urban advantages. HSS exhibited the lowest rates (64%) and highest scores (M = 27.3), reflecting better teacher preparation, though 80% reported weak prior knowledge. ECT misconceptions correlate with teaching methods and resource availability, with EOD being the most affected. The groups encounter difficulties due to gaps in prior knowledge and passive teaching methods in HSS. Future research should test targeted interventions (e.g., labs, CCTs, teacher training) and expand longitudinal data collection to address these disparities effectively.
Quantum Leaps over the Nile: Rethinking the Ethiopia-Egypt Dispute through a Quantum Lens Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 12 No 4 (2025): Konfrontasi, December
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/konfrontasi2.v12i4.359

Abstract

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), now 98.66% complete, represents a significant advancement in regional development, providing electricity access to households previously reliant on rudimentary lighting and supporting socioeconomic progress in Ethiopia. However, for Egypt's population of over 105 million, heavily dependent on the Nile, it raises concerns over potential reductions in downstream flow, impacting agricultural productivity in the Nile Delta. Sudan, with a population of approximately 48 million, anticipates benefits from regulated flows equivalent to around 20 billion cubic meters (BCM) annually, including reduced flood risks, though drought remains a potential challenge. This study humanizes the transboundary stakes involved, employing synthetic data for water allocations and dispute intensity to model scenarios amid the ongoing 2025 negotiations. It proposes a quantum-inspired diplomatic framework to resolve this transboundary dispute, integrating optimization techniques with cooperative mechanisms. Statistical analysis compares classical allocation approaches (variable outcomes, 0.89 efficiency) with quantum-optimized models (more stable, 0.92 efficiency), based on simulations of the Nile's approximate 100 BCM annual flow. Visualizations illustrate allocation trends, informing proposed policy frameworks such as a Water Accord, Nile Resilience Protocol, and Global Quantum Partnership. Results from quantum-inspired models demonstrate stabilized shares (e.g., 50 BCM for upstream uses, 30 BCM and 20 BCM downstream), reducing variance by 50% and accommodating sediment dynamics of approximately 287 million cubic meters annually. In conclusion, the analysis underscores pathways beyond mere data toward equitable resource management, fostering cooperation across riparian states. Recommendations include establishing real-time modeling hubs, adaptive reserve mechanisms, and enhanced global collaboration by 2026 to support sustainable Nile Basin governance.
The Mediating Role of Computational Identity in the Relationship between Computational Thinking Skills and Academic Self-Efficacy Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 12 No 4 (2025): Konfrontasi, December
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.33258/konfrontasi2.v12i4.360

Abstract

Computational thinking (CT) has emerged as a critical 21st-century skill, yet its motivational and psychological correlates in higher education remain underexplored, particularly in African contexts. Creative interest (CI) and academic self-efficacy (ASE) represent key motivational mechanisms that may link CT perceptions to broader academic confidence. Purpose: This study examined the direct and indirect relationships among computational thinking, creative interest, and academic self-efficacy among undergraduate students, testing whether creative interest mediates the effect of CT on ASE. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 357 undergraduate students at Dire Dawa University, Ethiopia. Validated self-report scales measured overall and subscale levels of CT, CI, and ASE. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and bootstrapped mediation analysis with PROCESS macro. CFA supported the distinctiveness of the three constructs with acceptable fit (CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.072) and strong validity (AVE > 0.76). CT showed strong positive correlations with CI (r = 0.594) and ASE (r = 0.632). Mediation analysis revealed a significant total effect of CT on ASE (β = 0.356, p < .001), a significant direct effect after mediation (β = 0.289, p < .001), and a small but significant indirect effect via CI (β = 0.067, 95% bootstrap CI [0.033, 0.101]), accounting for 18.8% of the total effect. The model explained 42.5% of variance in ASE. Conclusion: Computational thinking perceptions enhance academic self-efficacy both directly and partially through creative interest, highlighting a motivational pathway in which CT fosters creative identity that, in turn, supports efficacy beliefs. Ethiopian universities should integrate CT training with activities that explicitly link computational skills to creative expression and self-regulated learning to maximize motivational and efficacy benefits.
The Cosmic Horizon as the Highest Heaven: Examining Michael Guillen's Hypothesis Belay Sitotaw Goshu; Muhammad Ridwan
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 13 No 1 (2026): Konfrontasi, March
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

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Abstract

The human tendency to locate the divine in spatial terms represents a cognitive universal, yet classical theism affirms divine transcendence, the claim that God as Creator cannot be contained within creation. Into this tension steps physicist Michael Guillen, who has proposed that the "highest heaven" described in biblical tradition possesses a specific physical location: the cosmic horizon, the boundary of the observable universe where galaxies recede at the speed of light and time ceases. This article critically examines Guillen's hypothesis, evaluating whether it successfully integrates scientific cosmology with theological claims about divine transcendence and the nature of heaven. The study employs interdisciplinary analysis, drawing on cosmological literature to clarify the scientific status of the cosmic horizon, and on theological sources (biblical, patristic, medieval, and contemporary) to assess the hypothesis against classical and modern understandings of divine transcendence, immanence, and eschatology. The analysis proceeds through comparative evaluation of scientific and theological frameworks. While Guillen's hypothesis has received popular attention, sustained scholarly analysis remains lacking. This article provides the first systematic examination of the proposal within the science-religion literature, demonstrating how the hypothesis reveals fundamental tensions between spatial models of divinity and theological commitments to transcendence. It offers a constructive alternative: interpreting the cosmic horizon as a symbol of transcendence rather than a literal location. Scientifically, Guillen misconstrues the cosmic horizon, which is not a physical location but an observer-dependent observational boundary. Theologically, his spatial literalism conflicts with classical theism's affirmation that God cannot be contained within creation (1 Kings 8:27; Augustine; Aquinas).
The Augmented Science Journalist: A Human-in-the-Loop Framework for AI Integration Belay Sitotaw Goshu; M. Yoserizal saragih; Muhammad Ridwan
Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial Vol 13 No 1 (2026): Konfrontasi, March
Publisher : Budapest International Research and Critics University

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Abstract

Algorithmic bias in healthcare systems has emerged as a critical threat to equitable patient care, with growing evidence that machine learning models perpetuate racial and ethnic disparities in clinical decision-making. This study aimed to investigate the extent, evolution, and real-world consequences of bias in healthcare algorithms through an innovative human-in-the-loop (HITL) investigative journalism framework. The methodology integrated AI-driven discovery, automated code repository auditing, and in-depth human investigation across three phases. AI tools analyzed temporal bias trends from 2015–2023, audited over 50 public GitHub repositories, and quantified disparities, while human journalists conducted expert interviews, impact assessments, and narrative synthesis to ensure contextual accuracy and ethical framing. Key findings revealed persistent and severe biases: Black and Native American patients experienced 2–3 times higher bias scores than White patients, with diagnostic and risk-prediction algorithms showing the greatest disparities. Only 33% of analyzed repositories included explicit bias testing, despite high adoption rates. Consequential impacts included false negative rates up to 73.7% for Black patients needing care, elevated treatment disparities, poorer health outcomes, and substantial economic costs from excess hospitalizations. The novelty lies in the scalable HITL synergy that enabled longitudinal, multi-source analysis previously infeasible manually, translating technical artifacts into actionable public knowledge. In conclusion, unchecked algorithmic bias systematically harms marginalized communities. We recommend mandatory bias audits, regulatory oversight of proprietary systems, and participatory governance involving affected patients.