Faculty of Education and Human Sciences

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A reflection on constructively aligned remote assessment for quality learning beyond COVID-19 pandemic: A case of University of Namibia
(Creative Education, 2022) Neshila, Kashinauua Faustina; Joshua, Lukas Matati; Shihomeka, Sadrag P.
To take a critical reflection on quality assessment used beyond remote teaching, learning and assessment at the University of Namibia. Objectives: 1) To encourage assessment tasks that promote critical thinking beyond remote learning period. 2) To promote constructively aligned assessment that enhances quality student learning. 3) To fulfill various purposes of assessment in higher education setting. Method: The paper adopted Donald Schön’s Reflection-in-Action as method to critique constructive aligned assessment for quality learning beyond COVID-19 era. Findings: The main findings revealed that for quality post-remote assessment to take place it should be aligned to curriculum, teaching and learning activities. Quality assessment promotes student lifelong learning and the assessment criteria should be explicit. Conclusion: The paper concluded that assessment is the heart of education and should be well understood by both lecturers and students. Effort should be made to ensure that culture does not constraint quality remote assessment. Recommendations: It is recommended that the university should organize capacity building training for lecturers in the ever-changing assessment practice. Finally, it is recommended that attention should be placed on demystifying remote assessment which enhances teaching and lifelong learning
A systematic review on the fourth industrial revolution: African basic schools' readiness
(Jurnal Bidang Pendidikan Dasar, 2023) Awodiji, Omotayo Adewale; Katjiteo, Ancia
This systematic review's primary goal is to determine how prepared African basic schools are for implementing 4IR tools and how well-versed in 4IR the teachers in African basic schools are. A systematic review approach was adopted. Data base such as Johannesburg e-library, ProQuest, and Google scholar was used to search for relevant study used. It was determined that the findings were valid and rigourous through the use of PRISMA. Out 106,859 resource generated, the review included 18 studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study highlights the necessity for African basic schools to enhance their preparedness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Funding is crucial to provide the necessary 4IR infrastructures, suggesting the allocation of resources by the African government for procurement and deployment of 4IR tools. Additionally, implementing a program to train teachers and school leaders in 4IR technologies is recommended to enhance their capabilities
Academic literacy: What's in a name?
(Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2008) Smit, Talita C.
An alarming number of scholars have discussed Southern African students’ low proficiency in academic literacy on entering tertiary institutions. This article will take an in-depth look into the current interpretation of what constitutes academic literacy. It will, furthermore, look at the relationship between critical thinking and autonomy in learning. The changing profile of Namibian university students, their ethnic, social and academic identities and the marked influence this has on designing courses to integrate them into a predominantly Western academic culture will be discussed. The focus will be on the Namibian students’ need for direction and support in developing proficiency in critical literacy. Suggestions on how English for Intellectual Purposes can support courses in English for Academic Purposes will be given. Further research into the specific needs and strengths of first generation students is, however, necessary. In the course of lecturing university students in Namibia, I have increasingly become aware that no matter what method of instruction is followed, students still seem to be bewildered at the end of a semester course in English for Academic Purposes (hereafter EAP), offered as an introduction to their academic studies. Conversations with lecturers from other faculties also indicate that students do not seem to gain much from EAP courses. Otaala (2005) has found that most of those students who participated in a survey indicated that they did not experience lasting gains in academic proficiency even after attending courses to develop literacy skills. On the other hand, there appears to be constant upgrading and redefining of EAP course material in an attempt to satisfy the students’ academic needs. Artificially loading courses and extending their duration, however, seem to be contra-productive. An innovative approach towards academic literacy is needed if students should derive lasting benefits; however, some of the qualities in the successful student profile, such as the development of critical thinking skills and self-reliance, defy easy reduction to attainable course goals and would be difficult to quantify within an assessed syllabus. This is not to say that such a syllabus cannot be divised, but only that it might not be possible to subject it to the same constraints and objectives (Sowden, 2003) set for existing EAP courses. Language courses which aim to promote learner autonomy need to incorporate means of transferring responsibility for aspects of the language that the learners process (such as setting goals, setting learning strategies and evaluating progress) from the teacher to the learner (Cotterall, 2000). However, before an informed solution to the current dilemma in EAP skills teaching can be suggested, it is necessary to consider the term literacy in depth.
An assessment on the effect of leadership styles on the employee performance: A case of Namibia Dairies in Namibia
(International Journal of Learning and Development, 2024) Pedro, Rosalina Esperanca; Viola, Unengu; Mbangula, Daniel K.
The paper examines the effect of leadership styles on the employee performance a case of Namibia dairies. From the study, it was discovered that the type of leadership style that managers use influences the morale of the employees. This study adopted a qualitative research approach using a case study design. A case study is a qualitative research method that allows a deep exploration within a natural context and hence provides a full and through understanding of the particular and lived experience of a participant. The study has 15 participants who were selected using non-probability sampling method. The results also highlighted that some of the leadership styles that are used by managers stifles employee morale thereby affecting the employees’ efficiency in an organisation. The study findings also indicated that there was significant positive relationship between democratic leadership and employee performance. The study findings furthermore indicated that there was significant positive relationship between democratic leadership and employee performance. Whilst the study results revealed that laissez-faire leadership style and individual performance has a negative relationship. The study recommends that democratic leadership style should be encouraged, for the fact that it would further empower their subordinates by developing teams and accord some measure of responsibility and authority to their employees. Therefore, workers would ignite their potentials, realize job satisfaction, and execute their tasks maximally for organization survival
An analysis of a teacher education programme at a Namibian tertiary institution
(Creative Education, 2022) Junias, Kristofina; Kambeyo, Linus; Katukula, Kelvin Mubiana
Teacher quality is a crucial element of quality education, and it is dependent on the quality of teacher education. Thus, this study analyses the teacher training programme at a Namibian university to determine its quality. Four quality determining components were analysed: students and teacher educator qualities; curriculum materials; teaching and learning process; and teaching practice. This qualitative study employed a single case study design. Four research instruments were used to collect data: document analysis, focus group interviews, questionnaires, and observations. The sample comprised one hundred and sixty (160) pre-service students, one (1) focus group of fifteen (15) graduates, sixteen (16) teacher educators, and three (3) focus groups with a total of thirty (30) pre-service students. The significant findings of this study were that average students enroll in the teacher education programme because of extrinsic and other motives other than intrinsic and altruistic reasons. In addition, the teacher education curriculum was found to be overcrowded with fragmented modules. Further, the subject matter content was not aligned with the school curriculum; students exit with little subject matter knowledge. The study also found that the assessment of pre-service students lacked authenticity as assessment questions do not test the understanding and application of knowledge. Additionally, the lecture method dominated the pedagogies employed, promoting rote learning. Another factor was poor teaching practices characterised by inadequate time allocation and lack of mentoring support from the school. Thus, a lot is desired from the teacher education programme; hence, the study recommends a longitudinal study to be carried out involving all higher education institutions in Namibia that offer a teacher education programme to see if the findings would be the same
Analysis of frames used by Namibian newspapers in their reportage of the San community
(University of Namibia, 2020) Magadza, Moses E.; Akpabio, Eno
This study involves an analysis of the representation of San people of Namibia in news stories published in The Namibian, New Era, Informanté, The Southern Times, The Villager, The Windhoek Observer and Namibian Sun newspapers over a two-year period - January 2012 to December 2013. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the stories. Content analysis and critical discourse analysis (CDA) were used to analyse data and point out binaries and dichotomies inherent in selected articles. The study found that balanced reportage of issues that affect San people is conspicuously absent. Much of the reportage is event-driven, lacking analysis and balance. The study recommends new media discourses
Assessing staff digital literacy level vs attitude toward online teaching and learning quadrant
(NAWA Journal of Language and Communication (NJLM), 2023) Shihomeka, Sadrag P.
This paper aimed at positioning a staff digital literacy level versus attitude toward online teaching and learning quadrant in the curriculum transformation interventions of various institutions to ensure that their policy intervention with regard to online learning remains user-friendly and sector appropriate. Using a critical autobiographical narrative inquiry, this quadrant was developed to assist educational institutions, personnel, and other stakeholders with a unique tool to assess their staff digital literacy level and the position of their attitude toward online teaching and learning. The quadrants consist of 4 sections: High Digital Literacy Level-Low Attitude Toward e-Teaching & Learning; High Digital Literacy Level-High Attitude Toward e-Teaching & Learning; Low Digital Literacy Level-Low Attitude Toward e-Teaching & Learning; Low Digital Literacy Level-High Attitude Toward e-Teaching & Learning. The quadrant used staff attitude as a yardstick to effectively implementing online learning initiatives in the education sector. The quadrants also serve as an educational re-engineering intervention strategy for the society 4.0/5.0 curriculum professionals
An assessment of users and Librarians’ skills and competencies in the use of electronic resources at the University of Botswana library
(2012) Selabe, M.; Abankwah, Ruth M.
Backlog in land allocation: A case of poor recordkeeping practices in land boards in Botswana
(2012) Abankwah, Ruth M.
Bericut uber die XI. internationale Deutschlehrertagung (IDT) in Amsterdam
(DUSA, 1997) Zappen-Thomson, Marianne
""' ·1. hi􀄲 zum 9. August 1997 fand in Amsterdam die XI. Internationale l..'cutschlehrertagung (IDn statt, zu der etwa I 500 Teilnehmer angem!! ldet waren. Die Tagung stand diesmal unter dem Motto "Deutsch in Emopa und in der Welt: Chancen und Initiativen". J•lt' Jl) r hat schon eine lange Geschichte. So wurde vor 30 Jahren in r-.1 i.inchcn die I. Internationale Deutschlehrertagung von der FIPLV 11 edeu1tion lnternationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantcs) zusam- 1'1'.:11 111it dem Goethe-lnstitut veranstaltet. Da reges Interesse am Fach I ;uLc;ch hestand, etwa 850 Teilnehmer besuchten die Tagung, wagte das r IPL \-I omitee den Schritt zur Grilndung des IDV (lnternationaler IJeutschlehrerverband), der 1968 in Zagreb ins Leben gerufen wurde. In- 1\-lischen gehoren dem IDV - mit den in Amsterdam aufgenommenen nl!ucn Vcrbanden - uber 90 Mitgliedsverbande aus mehr als 60 Landern tn. lnteiessant ist in diesem Zusammenhang der Hinweis von Claus Orth 'IQ97 .ll. langjahriges Vorstandsmitglied, dal3 "iiber 40% der IDV-Mitpli;: d􀇶verhande auBerhalb Europas beheimatet sind und daB deren Mitglie. t.·•7ahl iibcr 40% der mehr als 50 000 im IDV organisierten Deutsch' ··luer betriigt".
Can adoption of ICTs in schools assist in the war against poverty and underdevelopment in Namibia?
(Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2011) Matengu, Keneth K.
This article is part of a large study that investigates the issue of ICT and innovation adoption in Namibian schools. The main aim is not only to bring into focus the convegence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development and education, but also to highlight some of the major barriers to sucessful ICTs integration by schools. On the basis of a critical review of literature, claims about the role of ICTs in education are discussed and the synergies concerning ICTs for development interventions that can be identified are discussed. With the advent of ICTs, many people have claimed that ICTs have a pivotal role in development. Indeed, these tools are useful for different applications. However, there are certain factors that can prevent a country from utilising ICTs even if the devices and technologies exist. The challenges of considering educational institutions as development players and their preparedness to actually ‘throw decisive blows’ on poverty are emphaised and a conceptual framework encompasing critical success factors is mapped out. Reference is made to Namibian situation.
Change management in the implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, South Africa
(2021) Msomi, Mandisa; Kalusopa, Trywell; Luthuli, Lungile Precious
For decades, public hospitals have relied on managing records manually using different formats of classification. However, driven by an eHealth strategy, hospitals in South Africa are now changing to electronic health records (EHR) systems for their day-to-day functioning. Earlier studies conducted on health records management in the South African provinces of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Western Cape, all point to minimal evidence of change management in EHR system implementation in public hospitals. This paper presents empirical results of an investigation into the management of change in the implementation of an EHR system at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Public Hospital in the eThekwini area of KZN. The findings show that an ill-defined change management approach in the EHR system implementation hinders the progress of the implementation and thus the improvement of health service delivery. The study recommends that the implementation of a robust and functional EHR system be accompanied equally by a viable, parallel and executable change management blueprint.
Children’s early encounters with literacy in Windhoek urban preprimary schools in Namibia
(International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2021) Hengari, Job Uazembua
This paper takes a socio-cultural approach as it analyze ways in which reading and writing is taught and learnt to define what counts as literacy in Windhoek urban preprimary schools in Namibia. The study explores data of a larger ethnographic-style research that followed three children in three Windhoek urban pre-and primary schools in Namibia. The writer examines their early encounters with literacy and the implications of these encounters for their later development as readers and writers in schools. As teachers and learners occupy the classroom as a social space, they engage each other in literacy events, during which literacy development is scaffolded and encouraged as a culturally valued activity. This paper presents a „slice‟ of that larger study that followed three preschool classrooms literacy encounters over a period of six months. The writer suggests that this “school literacy”, defines what counts as literacy, a specific kind of literacy that is planned and offered to learners in a classroom setting. In Windhoek urban preprimary settings, the „traditional‟ conception of literacy as a largely psychological ability – something true to do with our intellect, and thus a private possession – remains dominant. Literacy learning is taught as a mechanical activity by focusing on breaking the code rather than as sense-making and engagement. I argue that this approach helps learners to cope with early primary school curriculum while missing to lay the foundation necessary for literacy forms and practices demanded in later years of schooling.
Cities of entanglements: Social life in Johannesburg and Maputo through ethnographic comparison
(Anthropology Southern Africa, 2022) Tjirera, Ellison
Cities invite attention because of the multiplicity of lifeworlds and encounters they engender. Whether approached from an anthropological, sociological or political vantage point, the “urban question” renders itself to a miniature of various encounters. Since Castells’ ([1972] 1977) classic work, “the urban question” — a reformulation of urbanisation as a capitalist project that emphasises the centrality of the city — has attracted significant attention by critical urban scholars. Scholars who expanded on Castells’ classical argument (for example, Brenner 2019; Merrifield 2014; Wacquant 2008) suggest that urban life is replete with unending pathways that leave us with more questions than answers.
A comparative analysis of word problems in six junior primary Mathematics textbooks in Namibia
(2019) Albin, Simon; Von Watzdorf, Anja
In mid-year of 2018, while lecturing on „Solving structured story word problems‟ for developing meanings of the four basic operations to the junior primary student teachers in their second year of the Bachelor Degree of Junior Primary Education at a selected Namibia‟s largest public University, both students and their lecturer of Numeracy Education recognized that the majority of taught story word problems found in junior primary schools‟ textbooks seemed to be of onetothreetypes of word problem structures, while there are actually twenty one word problem structures. This observation led the course lecturer and a student to carry out this research by analyzing the exact types of word problems found in six mathematics textbooks for Namibian junior primary schools currently in use. We analyzed by comparing two series of Grade 1-3 learner‟s books currently in use in Namibia‟s primary schools entitled “Platinum Mathematics” (Alves et al., 2014) and “Solid Foundations” (Burger, 2015) respectively. We analyzed by comparing two series of three textbooks and each series was written by the same authors from Grade 1-3. The literature review suggested that this focus area was under-researched in Namibia, hence its sharp contribution to the body of knowledge in particular the pedagogy of Mathematics. The key findings indicated first, inconsistency of hierarchical inclusion of word problems and second, multiplicative word problems were more (165) than additive word problems (108) translating into 72 multiplication word problems versus 22 word problems for addition in Table 5.1 and 67 multiplication word problems versus 21 word problems for addition as illustrated in table 5.2. The most outstanding finding showed that about 70% (188/273) word problems found in all six learner‟s textbooks were asking students to find the unknown results. This bias surely negatively affects students to reason realistically in Mathematics across the school grades (Ku & Sullivan, 2001) and this is supported by our teaching experience. As per our intuition, word problems and skills developed by solving word problems are the key fundamental reasoning enablers for learners to enjoy Mathematics and solve algebraic related problems in and out of school. Regrettably, this is not happening currently among Namibian learners. The new contribution to the pedagogy of Mathematics of this research study is the findings that indicated that some word problems found in junior primary school learner‟s books are a combination of more than one type of word problems. Hence, there is a need for teachers to ensure effective mastery of 21 word problems for the learners to be able to solve combined word problems.
Conceptualizing the benefits of adult literacy education in Namibia: A case of the Caprivi Region
(Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2011) Likando, Gilbert N.
This article aims to examine how adult literacy learners and policy makers conceptualise the benefits derived from adult literacy leaning in Namibia, using the Caprivi region as a case study to understand how community’s needs can be addressed through adult literacy. Both qualitative and quantitative designs were used in the process of data collection and analysis. A stratified sample of 100 adult literacy learners and purposive sample of five policy makers participated in the study. The findings revealed that there is a narrow conception of the benefits derived from adult literacy as participants conceived literacy as a neutral skill, other than a social practice embedded in socially constructed epistemological principles. The article concludes by making recommendation that due to this narrow conception of the benefits derived from adult literacy learning, there is a need to revisit the relationship between policy, practice and outcomes in the exiting National Literacy Programme in Namibia (NLPN).
Contextualising journalism education and training in Southern Africa
(iMasa, 2007) Banda, Fackson
In this article it is argued that journalism education in Southern Africa must contend with defining a new academic identity for itself, extricating itself from dependency on Western oriented models of journalism education and training, as this has been a perennial challenge in most of Africa.
A critical analysis of the impact of research in education: A systematic review
(Namibian Journal for Research, Science and Technology (NJRST), 2022) Katukula, Kelvin Mubiana; Kambeyo, Linus
Many studies have demonstrated the impact of research in many spheres of life. With the scientific knowledge on the rise, we postulated that impact of research is evident in different scientific fields, which includes education. It is not easy to provide a scholarly definition of the term impact of research as it lacks a standard definition and has various applications. Its uses ranges measuring specific measures to measuring different phenomena. However, impact of research is a demonstrable contribution outside academia. It is a benefit that society gets because of research activities and one way of archiving this benefit can be through the addition of value and improvement of the quality of life as a consequence of research. From the education perspective, the meaning of the impact of research may include the development of skills, knowledge, values, and cultural norms of a people. It is equally alluded to the ability to transform the art of teaching, which might lead to useful lessons that explain the curriculum to the benefit of the students. The impact of research can also mean the ability to influence the modification of educational policies to align them with the global educational trends. This critical systematic review addresses the gap in knowledge about the impact of research in basic education. It further provides a broader understanding of how the research impact affects teaching approaches, education policy, and how it influences education management.
Deutschntherricht im Sulichen Afrika
(DUSA, 1996) Zappen-Thomson, Marianne
Im Workshop "Fahrt mit uns den FluB hinunter ... " auf der Tagung des Siidafrikanischen Germanistenverbandes (SAGV) vom 18. bis 21. 4. 1995 wurden Ausli:inderfeindlichkeit und Rassismus thematisiert, nicht nur im Hinblick auf die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, sondern auch als (Ieider immer noch) aktuelle Themen im siidlichen Afrika. Vorwiegend konzipiert fiir Lehrerinnen, die Deutsch als Fremdsprache an der Oberstufe (8 . bis 12. Klasse) von Sekundarschulen unterrichten, sollten Informationen zusammengestellt, DiskussionsanHisse angeboten und verschiedene Moglichkeiten des Umgangs mit dieser brisanten Thematik im Unterricht aufgezeigt werden. Auf Didaktisierungen wurde weitgehend verzichtet. Der Beitrag umfaBt zwei Teile. · Im theoretischen Teil werden wichtige Begriffe deflniert, sowie der Hintergrund von Auslanderfeindlichkeit und Rassismus in Namibia und Deutschland skizziert. Im praktischen Teil werden einige Materialien, zum Beispiel Lieder und Bilder, zum Einsatz im U nterricht vorgestellt.
Deutschuntericht im Sudlichen Afrika
(DUSA, 1997) Zappen-Thomson, Marianne
Vom 4. bis zum 9. August 1997 fand in Amsterdam die XI. Internationale Deutschlehrertagung (IDT) statt, zu der etwa 1500 Teilnehmer ange􀆲 meldet waren. Die Tagung stand diesmal unter dem Motto "Deutsch in Europa und in der Welt: Chancen und Initiativen". Die IDT hat schon eine lange Geschichte. So wurde vor 30 Jahren in Miinchen die I. Internationale Deutschlehrertagung von der FIPL V (Federation Internationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes) zusammen mit dem Goethe-lnstitut veranstaltet. Da reges Interesse am Fach Deutsch hestand, etwa 850 Teilnehmer besuchten die Tagung, wagte das FIPLV-Komitee den Schritt zur Griindung des IDV (Internationaler Deutschlehrerverband), der 1968 in Zagreb ins Leben gerufen wurde. Inzwisi:hen gehoren dem IDV - mit den in Amsterdam aufgenommenen neuen Verbanden - iiber 90 Mitgliedsverbande aus mehr als 60 Landern an. Interessant ist in diesem Zusammenhang der Hinweis von Claus Orth (1997: 5), langahriges Vorstandsmitglied, daB "uber 40% der IDV-Mitgliedsverbiinde auBerhalb Europas beheimatet sind und daB deren Mitgliederzahl iiber 40% der mehr als 50 000 im IDV organisierten Deutschlehrer betdigt".

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