AJOTE: What the Arts Teach and Teacher, Candidate, and Learner Roles and Competencies Winter/Spring 2013 Vol. 3, No. 1 Editor’s Note Dear AJOTE Readers and Contributors: Welcome to the African Journal of Teacher Education (AJOTE) Winter/Spring 2013 issue. This issue includes perspectives on the arts in education and teacher, candidate, and learner roles and competencies. The first three articles discuss the role of Fine Arts and Music in the curriculum. The opening article by David Wandera demonstrates the effective use of hip hop music to teach literacy in Kenyan schools followed by Stephen Olusoji’s proposal of how to incorporate music education more effectively that is reinforced with Bojor Enamhe’s article which calls for increased support and integration of Fine Arts education in Nigeria’s education systems. This section is followed by in depth studies on teacher roles and competencies. One study, by Michael O. Ogundele and Patricia A.O. Etejere, looks at teachers’ competencies and utilization of computer technology in Nigeria schools. Another study, by Florence Kinuthia, Donald Kombo, and Maureen Mweru, assesses preschool educator attitudes and proposes initiatives to improve teacher morale and productivity in preschool education in Kenya. A third study, by Sibonokuhle Ndlovu and Azwihangwisi E. Muthivhi, documents dire socio-economic and political factors that create barriers to maintaining academic standards in a rural Zimbabwe school district. The final two articles include a study on pre-service teacher or teacher candidate management competencies by Josta L. Nzilano and a survey study on learner-leader perspectives and competencies in Botswana conducted by Victor Y. Mgomezulu, Nathalis G. Wamba, and Lester B. Shawa. This issue provides unique and comparative works in education by bringing together education interests from a wide array of countries and education fields. The AJOTE Summer and Fall 2013 issues are in progress. We encourage the submission of high quality academic papers that promise to engage our audience in the many forms and forums of African education. The Summer issue is scheduled for release in August 2013 and the Fall issue is scheduled for November 2013. Please continue to share AJOTE with colleagues and students to increase awareness and engagement in African education. Submissions on African education from all fields and regions on the continent are welcome. As always a heartfelt “Thank you” to AJOTE’s Editorial Board, whose members consistently provide thorough and timely blind peer reviews. If you are interested in becoming an Editorial Board member, please e-mail your request, along with your CV, to AJOTE at AJOTE2011@gmail.com. Sincerely, Dr. Jamaine Abidogun Editor-in-Chief ______________________________________________________________________________ AJOTE: Vol. 3, No. 1 (Winter/Spring 2013) mailto:AJOTE2011@gmail.com