Zakariya Journal of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences

The SWOT Analysis of Teacher Training Programs for 21st Century Skills: A Critical Analysis

2026-05-06T06:55:31+00:00

The 21st century change in the education systems has largely been based on teacher training programs which have been more geared towards the development of higher-order thinking skills, digital literacy, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and socio-emotional skills rather than the traditional rote memorization skills. Within this fast-changing educational environment, educators are anticipated not only to be knowledge providers but also learning facilitators who can incorporate new pedagogies and new technologies in the classroom. Teacher education programs are thus highly important in preparing teachers to meet the demands of globalization, technological advancements and changing labor market demands. The paper employs SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analytical model to critically evaluate teacher training programs with special reference to how they can instill 21 st -century skills. Among the internal strengths that are the subject of the analysis, there are the curriculum reforms, the introduction of the learner-centered pedagogies and increasing attention to professional development. Nevertheless, it also singles out the systemic shortcomings such as the lack of infrastructure, the lack of practical training, the lack of digital integration, and the lack of theory-practice alignment. Externally, the research considers the opportunities available due to technological innovation, international partnerships, policy changes and growth of online learning platforms. Meanwhile, it identifies such threats as unequal distribution of resources, opposition to change, unstable policies, and unequal access to training in developing contexts. These dimensions synthesis provides the strategic recommendations in the research that may help in improving the teacher education systems, improving the quality of instructions and efficient preparation of teachers to meet the multi-faceted demands of the 21st century education.

Lifestyle Behavior Changes in the Post-Pandemic Era among Young Adults

2026-06-16T09:20:13+00:00

The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive upheavals to the everyday lives, social, and health practices of young adults, and the impact has far-reaching implications that go beyond the immediate response phase of the health crisis. With societies emerging into the post-pandemic period, it is a critical public health consideration to investigate how behavioral disruptions have continued, healed, or evolved. This cross-sectional, quantitative study investigated the changes in lifestyle behavior and predictors of post-pandemic changes in a group of 200 Pakistani young adults aged 18-30 years, university students and new graduates. Changes in dietary quality, meal regularity, physical activity, sleep patterns, and perceived pandemic impact, digital health resource access, and perceived social support were measured with a structured questionnaire with 5-point Likert scales. Reliability was established through the use of Cronbach alpha ( 0.76– 0.84). Extensive worsening of behavior was reported including 64.5% reported deterioration in physical activity, 70.0% deterioration in vigorous physical activity, 58.5% deterioration in nutritional quality and 52.0% deterioration in the quality of sleep; ironically 47.0% reported that sleep duration had improved. Multiple regression identified pandemic impact severity (β = −0.381, p < 0.001), digital health access (β = 0.291, p < 0.001), social support (β = 0.239, p < 0.01), and education level (β = 0.138, p < 0.05) as significant predictors of behavioral recovery (R² = 0.370). The scarring of post-pandemic behavior is prevalent and unevenly distributed, and female, lower-income, and less-educated young adults exhibit persistently poorer recovery. Specialized interventions based on the use of digital health tools and social support networks are urgently required.

Reorienting Statecraft from External Projection to Internal Consolidation: A Critical Review of “The Boat Bridge Doctrine - A New Paradigm for the National Power”

2026-06-16T09:30:32+00:00

The paper aims to critically analyze and review the novel approach of national power projection, the Boat Bridge Doctrine (BBD), proposed by Mian Mazhar Waqas in his book “ Boat Bridge Doctrine: A new Paradigm for National Power” published in 2025. The doctrine holds that the consolidation of the internal state is, above all, the condition of sustainable influence in the international arena instead of manoeuvring. BBD takes the metaphor created by boats that have been carefully put together and tied down before crossing the rough waters of the sea, and flips it upside down; it says that domestic resilience is essential before taking the big step of engaging in the world, not as a result of it. This paper adopts a qualitative methodological approach grounded in comparative theoretical analysis. It evaluates The Boat Bridge Doctrine using key International Relations frameworks, including realism, liberalism, institutionalism, and state-building theories, to critically assess its conceptual positioning and theoretical contribution. This review places BBD in the context of the current international relations theoretical tradition and scrutinizes how it fits with and differs from realist, liberal, institutionalist, and state-building approaches. By comparing BBD with other theories on state capacity, credible commitment, and diplomatic credibility, the paper maintains that BBD is a unique addition to grand strategy theory that provides a systemisation of the internal-external nexus in statecraft. The review marks both the theoretical innovations of the doctrine and identifies some issues that need to be further developed empirically, such as the question of measurement metrics, issues of applicability for small states, and the security dilemma in inward-first strategies.

Use of Social Media and its Impact on Academic Achievement of Undergraduates

2026-07-17T08:01:53+00:00

The study aimed the “use of Social Media and its impact on Academic Achievement of Undergraduates” The objectives of the study were to find the relationship among social media usage and mental health outcomes, To determine the effects of social media on academic achievement of students and to highlight the social media practices by students. The design of research was descriptive quantitative. The researchers were gather data through questionnaire in numeric form and were analyzing it to get results. using this design, the researcher was able to collect quantitative data from a large number of respondents within a limited time period. The goals of this investigation were proficient using the procedure. Researchers develop a questionnaire to gather information on graduate student’s attitudes and usage of social media. The respondents were asked to offer their perceptive recommendations. In order to collect the opinions of the respondents, researcher collected data through questionnaire personally. This study purpose to determine social media usage and relationship between the overall academic grade/level point ordinary (GPA) and patterns of social media use. This study engaged a quantitative methodology, and 230 university scholars were given questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed through SPSS software. The data were analyzed through descriptive analysis by using mean, percentage and standard deviation through inferential analysis by using t-test etc. It was found that there is significant effect of social media on academic achievement of students.

Multidimensional Poverty Analysis of Small Growers in District Khairpur Mir’s

2026-07-27T07:19:35+00:00

Poverty remains one of the major challenges to sustainable rural development in Pakistan, particularly among smallholder farming households. This study aimed to analyze the multidimensional poverty status of small growers in District Khairpur Mir's, Sindh, Pakistan, during the 2025 study period. The specific objectives were to examine the socio-economic characteristics of small growers, determine the level of multidimensional poverty in terms of health, education, and living standards, and provide policy recommendations for reducing rural poverty. Primary data collected from small growers through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistical techniques, including means and standard deviations, used to analyze the socio-economic characteristics and multidimensional poverty indicators. The analysis focused on three major dimensions of poverty: health, education, and living standards, together with household income, expenditure, food consumption, housing conditions, and asset ownership. The findings revealed that the average age of the respondents was 38 years, indicating that most respondents belonged to the economically active age group. However, the study found considerable deprivation in all three dimensions of multidimensional poverty. Health-related problems, including cough, hepatitis, and tuberculosis, reflected inadequate access to quality healthcare services. Educational attainment was generally low, with a high proportion of respondents being illiterate or having only primary-level education. Living standards were also poor, as many households lived in kacha houses and had limited ownership of essential household assets and basic amenities. Household expenditures on food, education, healthcare, transportation, and communication represented a substantial financial burden, while agriculture remained the principal source of household income. Limited livelihood diversification and inadequate infrastructure further increased the economic vulnerability of small growers. The study concludes that multidimensional poverty among small growers in District Khairpur Mir's driven by deficiencies in health, education, and living standards rather than income alone. Improving rural infrastructure, expanding access to quality healthcare and education, strengthening agricultural extension services, promoting income diversification, and implementing effective public–private partnership (PPP) programs are essential for reducing multidimensional poverty and improving the overall well-being of rural farming households. The findings provide useful evidence for policymakers, development agencies, and researchers in designing targeted interventions for sustainable rural development in Sindh, Pakistan.