Volume 5 (2016)

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The Namibian portfolio for languages: a tool for formative assessment in Namibian secondary schools
(University of Namibia, 2016) Zannier, Aurelie; Lumbu, Simon D.
The notion of learner-centred education has received praise since its inception in the Namibian education system in the early 1990s. This development provided a need for restructuring the process of teaching-learning, the nature of the curriculum, materials and assessment. The Education for All document similarly advocates for the regulation of formative assessment since the early years of the new Namibia. Little evidence suggests that the practical integration of formative assessment has not been concretely defined. In a learner-centred approach, formative assessment is crucial. Whereas it can be generally accepted that formative assessment is at the core of assessment in most language classrooms, it remains unclear whether assessment is more summative than formative. While learners’ marks are indicative of summative assessment, there is no tool to form the basis for the implementation of formative assessment and teacher feedback on their learners’ formative assessment. A team of teachers of French as a foreign language in Namibia viewed the introduction of a portfolio for languages as a practical tool for teachers and learners in order to implement formative assessment. This paper presents the use of the Namibian Portfolio for Languages as a pedagogical tool for self-assessment.
Comparative best practices to manage corruption
(University of Namibia, 2016) Coetzee, Johan
During the last two decades debates about corruption and ways to contain it have acquired a new intensity and concentrated focus. There are increasing attempts to construct a global framework of best practices to manage corruption. Because corruption is a systemic challenge that needs a long-term approach to manage, it is worthwhile focusing on best practises that have proved to be the most durable (most sustainable). Such practices that demonstrate elements of systemic reform in-clude reforms in two newly industrialised and two developed countries. In all four cases there was no masterplan and reform evolved over time. Ongoing successes reinforced the momentum of change, and these successes became institutionalised in government processes and the culture of participative governance.
An exploration of the portrayal of the girl-child in Erna Muller’s novels It all goes wrong and when you dance with the crocodile
(University of Namibia, 2016) Chunga, Timothy M.; Kangira, Jairos
This paper provides a critical analysis of the portrayal of the girl-child by Erna Muller in It all goes wrong (2014) and When you dance with the crocodile (2014). The two novels were selected using purposive sampling as they primarily characterise girl-children as protagonists. The researchers employed the African feminist literary theory as argued by Chukwuma (2006) in this study. The African feminist literary theory was used to study how the girl-child is portrayed in a patriarchal world. Content analysis was used to examine the depiction of the girl-child in the two novels. The study revealed that in both novels the girl-characters make independent decisions and act on them, while other characters such as adults and boys play secondary roles. The study found that Erna Muller portrays the girl-child as innocent, open minded, caring, adventurous, assertive, compasssionate and brave. All in all, it can be concluded that Muller uses the two novels to empower the girl-child.
An evaluation into why some people in Windhoek want to stay (job embeddedness) and others want to leave their jobs (turnover intention)
(University of Namibia, 2016) Pieters, Wesley R.
Employees’ loyalty is shifting from loyalty towards the organisation to loyalty to the dollar (pay/benefits). There is no sense of pride in their membership of a certain organisation, joy is focused on the benefits an organisation offers and what’s in it for me attitude (employee). Job embeddedness is defined as a construct that deals with a broad array of influences that represents why an employee wants to stay with a specific organisation. Turnover intention can be defined as an employee’s intention to leave his/her job within a certain period of time. When employees experience a good fit, positive links and low sacrifices in their jobs, they are less likely to leave the organisation. Participants were made of 90 (48.1%) teachers from primary schools and 97 (51.9%) legal firm employees. Female employees from legal firms experienced higher levels of turnover intention than any other group. Divorced and single employees from the legal firms experienced significantly higher levels of turnover intention with married employees experiencing the lowest levels of turnover intention. Total turnover intention recorded a negative co-relation with overall job embeddedness (r=-.29*, p < 0.05), a positive co-relation with community job embeddedness (r=.02, p < 0.05) and health care and retirement job embeddedness (r=.14*, p < 0.05). Investing in team building activities, social events for staff members, paying the best competitive salaries and benefits, retaining the more competent employees within the profession will allow the organisation to prosper. Having the best and happiest employees within the market will allow organisations to meet the top two objectives of the organisation, maintain high levels of productivity and retain the best talent.
Altruism or economic expediency? A descriptive account of Namibia’s 1998 involvement in the DRC conflict
(University of Namibia, 2016) Amupanda, Job S.
In 1998, Namibia joined the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a conflict referred to by some as the most devastating war to have occurred since the Second World War, resulting in the death and displacement of millions of people. Involving about eight African countries, this war desta-bilised the region, resulting in it being referred to by many as ‘Africa’s First World War.’ During this war, extensive resources of nation states were allocated to warfare, instead of being channelled to-wards more productive and life-saving welfare and poverty alleviation programmes. For example, the United Nations (UN) estimates that the war in the DRC cost Namibia about N$700 Million. While the involvement of Namibia attracted much criticism, it failed to attract academic research of equal measure. Of the research projects conducted, few are by Namibian researchers. There has not been a coherent descriptive account of Namibia’s involvement in this conflict. This article provides a descrip-tive account of Namibia’s involvement in this conflict while exploring and examining Namibia’s mo-tive for being involved in this devastating conflict.
The relevance of integrating Ethno-Science (Indigenous knowledge) into Upper Primary Natural Sciences and Health Education School Curriculum in the Zambezi Region
(University of Namibia, 2016) Utete, Christina N.; Ilukena, Alex M.; Simasiku, Muyumbano B.
There is widespread concern about the outcomes of science education in Namibian schools. The representatives of industries say that they need high-grade scientists, technicians and engineers if Namibia is to successfully compete in technology-intensive global markets by 2030. Ethno-science is a specialisation of indigenous knowledge (IK). It focuses on a scientific perspective of culture. The re-search that resulted in this article critically analysed the relevance of integrating ethno-science (IK) into the Upper Primary School curriculum in Namibia. The research further looked at how the people in the Zambezi region have developed a working terminology that produces taxonomies related to ethno-science. Research has shown that most anthropologists have carried out studies in ethno-science based on native perceptions. This research relies on a quantitative research approach in order to gather data from a population on the general understanding of ethno-science. It can also reveal that 10 parents were involved in the research. This research is of the utmost importance to the different sectors of the industry, teachers, learners, the National Institute For Educational Development (NIED), parents and institutions of higher learning as well as for the nation that needs to produce more science specialists at all level; a society that needs technicians as well as world-class researchers in order to increase the public’s ability to engage with scientific knowledge and choices.
Radical acting techniques in Zimbabwean street theatre: Implications on audience criticality
(University of Namibia, 2016) Mangosho, Tatenda; Chivandikwa, Nehemia; Mlenga, Tafadzwa
Drawing on Brechtian and traditional African theoretical frameworks, this paper examines nonrealistic acting techniques and fluid manipulation of space in Zimbabwean street theatre as forms of radical innovations in performance aesthetics. Focus is on how these radical innovations are implicated in engendering, sustaining and stimulating an alert and critical audience.
Individual agency and responsibility in African proverbial discourse
(University of Namibia, 2016) Pongweni, Alex
Akarumwa nechekuchera (He was bitten by what he dug up). (Shona idiom reminding that trouble may be lying deep in the earth, minding its own business, as it were. Someone takes a pick and shovel and unearths it. The person bears the responsibility for the consequences of their own action.) While proverbial lore has been the focus of much research and publication over the years, not many of those have thoroughly examined what I intend to interrogate here, namely how this lore seeks to alert us to the connection between our actions and our responsibility for them. Proverbs are as old as human existence, as can be seen in Jewish thinkers devoting a whole book of The Old Testament to them. In their introduction to that book, the editors outline the domains of life in which a knowledge and acceptance of the wisdom contained in proverbs would enable the Children of Israel to live life as God intended at the Creation. These encompass “reverence for the Lord, religious morality, good manners, self-control, humility, patience, etiquette in social relationships, loyalty to friends, respect for the poor, good manners, family relationships, business dealings, common sense”. In this paper, after analysing Shona proverbs whose messages fall into some of these categories, I conclude that, far from being conservative and authoritarian injunctions out of synch with modernity because of their alleged downplaying of, even frowning on individualism for being inimical to African communal-ism, as some Western thinkers have concluded, African proverbs carry wisdom which reminds us of the connection between individual and communal action, on the one hand, and individual and communal responsibility for creating the societies that we live in through such action, on the other; in fact, proverbial lore recognises both individualism and communalism.
Analysis of factors influencing first year University Undergraduate performance in selected pure Mathematics courses at the National University of Science and Technology – Zimbabwe
(University of Namibia, 2016) Hove, Kudakwashe; Masache, Amon; Showa, Surudzai
In 2012, the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Zimbabwe reviewed the University qualification entry cut-off points downwards in the Applied Mathematics Department. Following the review, there has been a worrisome and distinct change in student performance in first year mathematics courses. To explore the possible causes of the poor performance amongst students, a two-stage probability sampling technique was used to collect secondary data covering mainly admission entry level qualification for each student. A one-way Sir Ronald Fisher’s Analysis of Variance model (ANOVA) was used to explore the contribution of various hypothesised factors to performance in first year undergraduate courses. Mathematics grade at advance level and overall performance in all subjects done at Advanced level by a student have a significant influence on his or her first year pure Mathematics courses performance at NUST. We recommend that the Department should em-ploy remedial strategies to first year pure Mathematics courses if students with low scores in advance level mathematics are to be admitted. Instead of focusing on service courses with large classes only, the Department should prioritise allocating extra tutorial hours to pure Mathematics courses. Furthermore the effects of brain drain can- not be ignored, hence the University should find ways to curb or deal with the gap that the highly experienced staff who left, created.
Visual literature: An essential part of academic learning
(University of Namibia, 2016) Beuke-Muir, Chrisna
Because the world is becoming a planet where speed plays a much bigger role than only one generation ago, information is gained at almost the speed of light. Although is not seen as strange phenomenon anymore, the fact remains that technology has developed so drastically that it is almost unthinkable that a person of sixty years old today started her live without television, computer, internet, and perhaps, also without a telephone. In the process literature and language are disciplines that are drastically influenced, apart from the fact that 93% of all language is non-verbal. Images are becoming a most important part of communication and influence us cognitively and emotionally. Images also accelerate and increase our level of comprehension. Therefore visual literature is becoming an integral part of learning. In this article, the Afrikaans comic Asterix die Galliër is investigated, and it is argued that a comic can serve as a subgenre in the main stream of literature. Visual and verbal language are compared and common entities in the syntax, morphology and lexicon are identifi ed. It is concluded that the combined process of reading text and seeing images is essential for learning and rational thinking. Visual literature should therefore not be neglected as a source of academic training.
Socio-economic impacts of tourism businesses in Okahandja: A case study of Nau-Aib
(University of Namibia, 2016) Gariseb, Garuan L.; Mosimane, Alfons W.
Tourism is one of the biggest and fastest growing industries in the world and its development is a major concern for developing countries. Its growth carries with it both negative and positive impacts on the local economy and the people of those countries where tourism is a significant sector. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the socio-economic influence of tourism businesses on the com-munity of Nau-Aib in Okahandja, using Edward’s (2005) socio-economic indicators. The results of a socio-economic impact assessment can inform a community about the wide scope of tourism impacts on their social and economic wellbeing. The study area of this research was Nau-Aib, one of the big-gest locations in Okahandja. Face to face interviews were conducted with 40 respondents residing in Nau-Aib. Tourism businesses, such as the arts and crafts market in Okahandja, and hospitality busi-nesses situated in the vicinity of Nau-Aib, were the focus for this study, as these businesses often en-gage in commercial activities that carry with them socio-economic impacts for adjacent communi-ties. Okahandja’s tourism sector generally employs local people. However, these jobs are mostly me-nial entry level jobs that pay employees modest salaries. Through its multiplier effect, the sector also encourages business growth in Nau-Aib, mainly in the informal sector, and induces improvements in public service utilities and infrastructural development at tourism significant areas to facilitate tour-ism activities.
Personal judgments and psychologically abusive behaviour: An analysis of ethnic differences in Namibia
(University of Namibia, 2016) Mberira, Mara
Using a self-report measure that was adapted by the author, this study asked Namibian men and women from 5 ethnic groups (Afrikaners, Damaras, Coloureds, Hereros, and Ovambos) about their perceptions of psychologically abusive behaviour on a global measure and four subscales: Restrictive/Denigration, Equity/Mind Game, Denigration, and Passive Aggression. These individuals were recruited from various organisations in Windhoek the capital of Namibia. Due to violations of the normality assumption and the failure of transformations, standard ANOVA and T tests were not performed. Instead, results from the appropriate non-parametric analyses (Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests) showed that significant gender and ethnic differences exist in the way psychologically abusive behaviour is perceived.Women, in particular, rated individual behaviour on a global measure of psychological abuse, and on the restrictive denigration abuse subscale, more psychologically abusive than men. Significant differences also existed in the way psychologically abusive behaviour is perceived between the Afrikaner and the Ovambo groups and between the Afrikaner and Damara groups. The largest effect size was noted between the Afrikaner and Damara groups. These findings ran contrary to study hypotheses; instead of the mean ranks for the Afrikaner group being higher than the other ethnic groups, the Afrikaner mean ranks were the lowest on all dependent variables. Implications for further research, policy, and practice are discussed.
Aspects of negation in Otjiherero
(University of Namibia, 2016) Kavari, Jekura U.
The purpose of this article is to provide a detailed description of Otjiherero negative grammatical features; to show how negation behaves in Otjiherero expressions; the effect of negation on meanin; the concomitant phonological processes involved; and to determine whether negation reveals Otjiherero sentence structures in general. As Möhlig and Kavari (2008, p.166) put it; “…in independent tenses, negation is expressed by the prefi x hi- for 1st person singular and by ka- for all other persons and classes”, while ha negates all subordinate clauses. Double negation in Otjiherero is a matter of emphasis, although in the Kaoko dialect it is used in a normal way in certain contexts, and though it is not used at all in the central dialect of Otjiherero. As Dembetembe (1986, p. 1) states: “…linguistically affi rmation or negation is a feature of the predicate, the nucleus of which is the verb, whether this is expressed overtly or latently in surface structure”, investigating how negation of predicates works seems to be an appropriate descriptive approach.
Confronting the global: The ‘mediatization’ of local culture and Namibian youth receptions of media power
(University of Namibia, 2016) Fox, Tom
This paper investigates the idea of the ‘mediatization’ of Namibian cultures, media power, and degrees of reflexive actor ‘negotiations’ of media institutionalism. It seeks to understand awareness of and reaction to local and global power narratives in relation to actors’ symbolic relationships with media. Research reveals that Namibian youth are often positive regarding the novelty and opportunities that global media off er for identity and lifestyle negotiations. However, it also revealed ontological anxieties about erosion of ‘traditional’ culture on the one hand, and concerns on the other about the absence of representation or recognition of the ‘local’ in global media productions. The Windhoek research on which this paper is based conceptually establishes three reflexive youth orientations and identities toward local/global media power: cultural appropriationist, cultural traditionalist and cultural representationalist. Theories of power and media are contrasted and analysed in relation to these reflexive categories, giving special reference to Lukes (2005). The paper concludes that while media culture today appears to be instrumental in Namibian identity formation and cultural change, social tensions and conflict over matters of culture and power are evident.
Opportunity Granted or Denied: An analysis of teachers’ implementation of English Language syllabus’ learning objectives and the fate of Grade 10 ESL learners at Public Schools in Windhoek
(University of Namibia, 2016) Lyamine, Yolana; Mlambo, Nelson
There is growing evidence that a lack of mastery of the English language causes negative academic consequences for learners. Poor performance of learners in national examinations in some countries, including Namibia, where English is the medium of instruction, has been attributed to low proficiency in English. Studies have also shown that there is often misalignment between what is intended to be taught in the classroom, and what is actually taught. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore whether teachers implemented intended Grade 10 ESL learning objectives, specifically in terms of content coverage in their classrooms. The study used a mixed method sequential explanatory design. Quantitative data was collected by questionnaire from thirty teachers of English as Second Language (ESL) at public schools in Windhoek. For the qualitative phase of the study, four teachers were interviewed. The study revealed that teachers do not implement all the intended Grade 10 ESL learning objectives in their classrooms. This ultimately compromises learners’ opportunity to learn and attain academic success.
Setswana mother tongue: Opportunities and challenges in Namibian schools
(University of Namibia, 2016) Mogotsi, Immaculate; Mufune, Pempelani
The official language policy in Namibia states that schools should teach grade 1 to 3 pupils in their mother tongue, but it is seldom taught as a medium of instruction in those grades. Where it is taught, there are seldom qualified teachers to teach it. This research investigates the teaching of Setswana language in schools in order to assess the factors contributing to the gap between policy and reality. Setswana speakers in Namibia constitute 0.3% of households (NSA, 2012) (unlike in Botswana where they are the majority and in South Africa, they constitute a substantial group). The rationale is that knowing the challenges and opportunities to providing mother tongue education to Batswana people may contribute to policy formulation that allows achievement of Namibia’s goal of Education for All (EFA). Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were the main qualitative data collection methods utilised for this study. Findings indicate that among the challenges of teaching in the mother tongue to Setswana children include; lack of qualified teachers, lack of teaching material, and conflict between curriculum panelists and Setswana subject advisor at NIED. Among the opportunities are collaboration with Botswana and South Africa governments on Setswana curriculum development in schools, Namibian schools, sourcing Setswana school materials and a pool of potential Setswana language teachers from Botswana and South Africa. It can be concluded that concerted efforts should be made by authorities to promote the use of local languages (such as Setswana) as a medium of instruction.
Gender representation in children’s literature: Limits and potential in Stephen Alumenda’s Marita goes to school and Marita’s great idea, and Jairos Kangira’s The bundle of firewood
(University of Namibia, 2016) Chitando, Anna
Different societies across the globe usually contrast masculinity with femininity. Men are often por-trayed in more positive terms that include being strong, achievers and providers, while women are depicted as the opposite. Such masculinities have emerged to be frameworks within which literary texts can be critiqued. In this article, I employ hegemonic and subordinate masculinities to argue that children’s stories can be utilised to transform unequal gender relations. I explore how Stephen Alu-menda and Jairos Kangira respond to gender issues in Zimbabwean children’s literature. The first sec-tion is a brief introduction that unpacks the concept of children’s literature and places the discussion of gender representation in children’s literature within the context of African literature. In the second segment, I outline how Alumenda endeavours to promote the education of the girl child. The third part highlights how this theme is advanced by Jairos Kangira, another author of children’s books.
Language use and the depiction of violence in pre-colonial Shona folk narratives
(University of Namibia, 2016) Matambirofa, Francis
Drawing illustrations chiefly from oral narratives, this article seeks to interrogate and dissect the imagining of violence in pre-colonial Shona society while paying special attention to the use of language of hatred, pain and injury therein. Language faithfully mirrors and gives away a society’s behavioural, spiritual, political, etc. construction. In view of the violence that has dogged Zimbabwe for several decades now, our point of departure is a polemical refutation of the traditionally held view that has one-sidedly idolised pre-colonial Shona society as peaceful and impliedly violence-free. While surely pre-colonial Shona society could never have been one marathon of violence, nevertheless, holding an analytical mirror to the past will reflect that the peaceful thesis does not constitute the whole truth either. The exaggerated image of a peaceful and innocent Shona society, we argue, was precipitated by a resurgent search for an African identity whose design was to reconnect with the past while countering the racist framing of blacks as a bloodthirsty lot to whose rescue the white man came. However folktales and romances, let alone pre-colonial history itself, betray, quite embarrassingly so for the one-sided view, as well as demonstrate that the Shona were not uniquely endowed with an incapacity for violence.
"One that has given you little has your soul consoled” – unemployed youth on surviving without unemployment benefi ts in Namibia
(University of Namibia, 2016) Namupala, Ndeshi
Alarmingly, youth unemployment rates in Namibia are among the highest in Southern Africa. This fact haunts Namibia terribly. The unemployment of those that should be the main bread winners does not only affect them as individuals, but also bears a negative impact on their families and friends. With poor access to productive assets such as capital, land and skills, the majority of the unemployed youth face a daily struggle to meet their basic needs and are often the ones on the periphery of the Namibian society. The difficulties in finding employment also mean difficulties in securing an income and a decent livelihood for these young people. In absence of a social protection system for unemployed people in Namibia, the situation of the youth is exacerbated. This study seeks to understand the social support system and survival strategies of the unemployed youth in Namibia. It draws data from the author’s on-going PhD research for which she conducted interviews with unemployed youth from Ohangwena and Khomas regions, with the aim to capture the lived experiences as well as the views of young people on the problem of youth unemployment in Namibia. The results point to the practical difficulties of unemployment the youth experience in their everyday lives. Findings indicate that the majority of youth are the most likely to fill low-quality jobs in the menial and informal economy rather than jobs with decent wages and benefits. In as much as the youth are engaging in the informal employment and economy, they do not regard it as employment. Consequently, many rely on family and friends for support in order to survive unemployment. As an onset to assist the unemployed, the author therefore propose the Basic Income Grand (BIG) as one way of socio-economic safety of the poor and unemployed as they persevere with their unemployment. Such an initiative can ameliorate the negative effects of unemployment specifically among the youth. This however, should not be regarded as a replacement for the possibility of unemployment benefit.
Rethinking xenophobia in the wake of human insecurity in South Africa
(University of Namibia, 2016) Chivurugwi, Josphat
This paper analyses the impact of xenophobic attacks which have rocked South Africa over the past few years, arguing that it has exhibited another human insecurity turning point. The traditional state-centric security conceptions that focus primarily on the safety of the state from military aggression has shifted attention to the security of the individuals. The xenophobic violence which was witnessed after South Africa attained independence in 1994, led scholars of international relations to surmise that the human security conceptual framework should advocates for a paradigm shift of attention from state security approach to a people centered approach to security. The main objective of this paper, therefore was to assess the effects of the xenophobic attacks which erupted periodically and affected the political and economic security sectors of South Africa. This paper adopted a qualitative approach and made use of documentary search, observation methods and in-depth interviews. The paper also revealed that xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa had affected peaceful traditional relations which were in existence between immigrants and the citizens. This article con-cluded that peace and security in South Africa was under threat, and the African National Congress government needed to formulate new immigration laws that regulated the influx of foreigners to avoid xenophobic attacks. This study, therefore advocates for constructive engagements where both migrants and citizens participate equally in the economic sector in South Africa, as opposed to a situ-ation where foreigners dominate. These would be migratory measures to resolve the differences be-tween migrants and the citizens.

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