This study examines the efficacy of peer assessment as a mechanism for evaluating the instructional performance of novice teachers in English language education. The primary objective is to determine the extent to which novice teachers can benefit from peer evaluations conducted by colleagues within the same discipline and to assess the prevalence and effectiveness of this assessment approach in English language teaching practices. Additionally, the study investigates the impact of peer assessment on the pedagogical competencies of novice educators.
The research was conducted with a sample of 20 English teachers employed in middle schools, utilizing semi-structured interviews as the principal method of data collection. The findings indicate that English teachers acknowledge and endorse the use of peer assessment, highlighting its significance in fostering instructional improvement. Specifically, participants emphasized that peer assessment contributes to professional development by engaging novice teachers in lesson planning, goal setting, self-reflection, collaborative pedagogical activities, and systematic performance evaluation; these findings match the results of Kurdritskaya's (2024) that peer assessment has a positive effect on teachers' learning and teaching.
Despite its advantages, several challenges associated with peer assessment were identified. These include heightened anxiety among novice teachers, the potential for embarrassment, and concerns regarding the exposure of specific instructional weaknesses. In light of these findings, the study advocates for the integration of structured peer assessment frameworks into teacher training programs to optimize their effectiveness in enhancing professional growth and pedagogical proficiency.
Keywords: peer assessment, novice teachers, performance tasks, intermediate schools

The removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria in May 2023 triggered sharp increases in petrol prices, with profound consequences for fuel-dependent livelihoods, particularly in the informal transportation sector. This study examines the coping strategies adopted by informal transport operators and appraises the policy responses introduced by the government to support them in Sokoto State. Drawing on a mixed-methods research design, the study surveyed 400 informal transport operators—motorcycle (Okada) riders, tricycle (Keke Napep) operators, and informal taxi/mini-bus drivers—across six purposively selected Local Government Areas with the highest concentration of informal transport activity. Quantitative data were complemented with key informant interviews conducted with union leaders, government officials, and transport-sector stakeholders. Findings reveal that operators rely largely on self-managed coping strategies such as fare increases, route and trip optimisation, household expenditure cuts, fuel-saving techniques, and longer working hours, often at the expense of their health and family welfare. Evidence shows very limited institutional or social safety-net support, with nearly nine out of ten operators receiving no structured assistance from unions, religious bodies, or formal credit systems. On the policy side, government responses were narrow in coverage and modest in depth; only 14.5% of respondents reported receiving any form of support, mainly one-off cash transfers or ad hoc training. Communication gaps further constrained access, as over half of operators reported receiving no information on available palliatives. The study concludes that current coping strategies are largely survivalist and unsustainable, and that government policy responses remain insufficiently targeted, poorly communicated, and weakly institutionalised. It recommends the expansion of fuel-voucher schemes, targeted microcredit, sector-specific welfare programmes, and clear communication frameworks, anchored in Welfare Economics Theory and Public Choice Theory, to improve the welfare and resilience of informal transport operators in the post-subsidy era.
Keywords: Fuel Subsidy Removal, Informal Transport Operators, Coping Strategies, Government Policy Responses