Volume 6 (2017)

Permanent URI for this community

http://hdl.handle.net/11070/1999

Browse

Browsing Volume 6 (2017) by Author "Likando, Gilbert N."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A critical reflection on student teachers' challenges during practicum placements in rural primary schools in the Kavango regions of Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2017) Ausiku, Charity; Likando, Gilbert N.; Mberema, Felicitas
    This study examined challenges that student teachers placed in rural schools in the two Kavango regions of Namibia encounter during practicum placements. A sample of 15 participants that consisted of five assessors (teacher educators) who had visited more than one of the selected rural schools and ten student teachers (team leaders) from three teaching School Based Studies (SBS) phases were selected using stratified purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews complemented by data from students’ reflective journals were used during data collection. The data was analysed in conformity with content analysis. The identified challenges were grouped into three categories: student related, institution related and school related challenges. The results of the study revealed that student teachers were inadequately prepared by their training institutions to adapt to different school environments. Furthermore, the findings revealed that student teachers were not fully supported by principals and mentor teachers, and that schools were inadequately resourced. Poor infrastructure and under-qualified temporary teachers were reflected by the outcomes of School-Based Studies (SBS) and the quality of the teacher training programmes. As a result, a partnership model to enhance SBS was developed to provide mitigation strategies on how challenges associated with student practicum placements, could be addressed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The role of a policy brief in policy formulation and review: Bringing evidence to bear
    (University of Namibia, 2017) Likando, Gilbert N.; Kadhila, Ngepathimo
    Applying scientific evidence in policy making is a complex, yet crucial issue that policy makers need to embrace at all times. Evidence-based policy making helps in filling the gap between academic research and practice. A policy brief is perceived in this review paper as a neutral synopsis that makes research findings easily digestible with a sole purpose to succinctly evaluate policy options regarding a specific issue, for a policy-maker audience. Unlike the general recommendations from findings of an academic research, a policy brief is a ‘professional’ concise report that ensures the impact of research in addressing problems and challenges facing society. Using document analysis as a methodological approach, this review paper discusses the importance of a policy brief in facilitating policy formulation and review. In addition, it critically examines, what a persuasive policy brief entails, and what steps to consider in de-signing actionable policy brief. The paper also provides a critical analysis of the current status-quo in terms of the development and use of policy briefs in policy formulation in Namibia.