UNAM Gā-aisib Repository (University of Namibia)
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Perspectives and experiences of students, academics and management on online learning during Covid 2020-2021 @ UNAM
No full textThis study tries to address a gap in the research by examining students, academics, and management’s perceptions and experiences toward online teaching and learning at UNAM
Factors causing job dissatisfaction among teachers in selected schools in the Onankali circuit in the Oshikoto region of Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education (Leadership, Management, and Policy Studies)The study investigated factors causing job dissatisfaction among teachers in selected schools in Onankali circuit in the Oshikoto region of Namibia. The following areas guided the research questions of the study: the current state of teachers’ job satisfaction; factors causing job dissatisfaction; the effects of job dissatisfaction and the strategies to improve teacher job satisfaction. A mixed-method research approach and a case study design were adopted. Qualitatively, a criterion purposeful sampling technique was used to identify a list of schools from the Onankali circuit with either high teacher attrition or absenteeism rates, two HoDs and the school principals of each of the participating schools. Quantitatively a stratified random sampling was used to select six (6) participating schools, whilst a systematic random sampling was employed to select eight (8) teachers from each selected school. The population of the study was 354 teachers; 21 HoDs; 25 Principals and one education inspector, while the sample constituted 61 participants. Structured questionnaires for the inspector, principals, HoDs and teachers were used. Data from qualitative interviews were analysed using the content analysis method. While responses from quantitative structured questionnaires were analysed using the Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). It was found that there is medium teacher job dissatisfaction in the Onankali circuit at about 50%. The study found that bad working conditions, poor management skills, and lack of resources and equipment in schools are the main causes of job dissatisfaction in the Onankali circuit. The study further revealed that job dissatisfaction negatively affects productivity, efficiency and the effectiveness of teachers. Participants indicated that schools with teachers who are job dissatisfied constantly experience changes in staffing. iii The study recommended that there must be a review of teachers’ benefits, an improvement in the working conditions especially the provision of teaching resources and equipment, and an improvement in teachers’ living conditions by providing all the necessary services
An exploratory study of social workers' experiences of working with HIV and AIDS infected clients in the Khomas, Kavango East, and Oshikoto regions
No full textA research thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of social workSocial workers as professionals largely work within health and social services-related settings. This study explored social workers’ experiences in working with HIV and AIDS infected clients in the Khomas, Kavango-East, and Oshikoto regions. The study adopted a qualitative approach, and a phenomenological design was used. Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews. The study population included state social workers from three different regions of Namibia. Specifically, the Rundu hospital, Windhoek Central hospital, Katutura State hospital, Tsumeb District hospital, Omuthiya hospital, and the Onandjokwe Intermediate hospital. A total of eleven social workers were selected to participate in the study, using the convenience or availability sampling technique. Braun and Clarke’s six-step model of thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings of this research uncovered four major aspects: Firstly, most social workers worked in a multi-disciplinary environment. Secondly, social workers perceived their work experience as both negative and positive. Thirdly, the lack of in-service training, poor supervision, human resources management injustices, and compassion fatigue are institutional challenges encountered in their work environment. Fourthly, social workers use coping mechanisms such as debriefing, positive self-talk, and time off from work to mitigate work related stressors. The study thus proposed the following recommendations: the development and implementation of an in-service and supervision training guide for social workers working at the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS). Secondly, the implementation of a specialized social work program at UNAM will enable social work students to focus on a specific area of expertise. Finally, the Social Work and Psychology Council of Namibia (SWPCN) should advise the MoHSS on the optimal working conditions for social workers in the public health sector
Examining effects of organisational communication on lower-level employee performance at Jose Eduardo Dos Santos campus of the University of Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master in business administration: management strategyThe purpose of this study was to examine the effects of organisational communication on
lower-level employees’ performance at Jose Eduardo Dos Santos Campus. In addition, it
identified the channels of communication considered by lower-level employees. It also
analysed the benefits of organisational communication on lower-level employee’s
performance. Finally, strategies to enhance the practice of organisational communication
to better the performance of lower-level employees were also determined. Moreover, the
researcher followed a qualitative research approach and adopted the interpretivism
philosophy. The study used the non-probability sampling technique, particularly
judgmental sampling to select a sample of twenty participants from a total population of
sixty lower-level employees. Data was collected using a semi-structured interview guide
making use of open-ended questions. Additionally, thematic analysis was used to analyse
data by coding themes and presented using graphs, tables, and pie charts. The study
findings show that there is a direct and significant relationship between organisational
communication and lower-level employee’s performance as an instrumental factor behind
organisational success. Therefore, the study concludes that organisational communication
allows the institution to obtain a significant result which is unattainable by any standalone
human being. In the final analysis, the study recommends that Jose Eduardo Dos Santos
Campus should maintain organisational communication as it has been proven to influence
employees to better perform their job. The study also recommends for a similar research
can be carried out in other institutions to compare if they face the same challenges and
how the best it can be addressed to enhance organisational performanc
Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antibiofilm properties of Opuntia stricta and Vachellia erioloba, and chemical characterization of volatile compounds
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in BiochemistryVachellia erioloba, commonly known as Acacia erioloba belongs to the family
Fabaceae and is native to Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. The plant is used
traditionally to treat ear infections, headaches, and toothaches. Opuntia stricta belongs
to the family Cactaceae and is found in Namibia. The plant is used in the management
of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer. This study was designed to
investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm activity, and chemical
characterization of V. erioloba and O. stricta. The radical scavenging capacity of
extracts was estimated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the reducing
power was determined using ferric reducing power assay. Moreover, the antimicrobial
activities of the extracts of these medicinal plants were tested against Staphylococcus
aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. On the other
hand, antibiofilm activity was determined against Staphylococcus aureus. The
phytochemical analysis of V. erioloba and O. stricta was done using qualitative and
quantitative phytochemical analysis. Moreover, the characterization of the volatile
constituents was done for the seed extract of V. erioloba. Furthermore, chemical
characterization of the volatile constituents of the extract was performed using gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The radical scavenging assay revealed
IC50 values of 1.973 ± 0.012 and 972.0 ± 22.3 μg/mL for the seed pods and seed of V.
erioloba, respectively, while the IC50 values for the extracts of O. stricta were 53.74
± 0.18, 153.8 ± 0.9, 258.7 ± 0.7, and IC50 ˃ 1000 μg/mL for the seeds, flowers, fruits,
and leaves of O. stricta, respectively. In addition, the reducing power of both V.
erioloba and O. stricta extracts increased as the concentration of the extracts
increased, which confirmed the presence of antioxidants in the extracts. The
antimicrobial assay revealed that the various extracts of V. erioloba and O. stricta
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exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity with inhibition zones (IZ) ranging from 0 to
12 mm. Moreover, the MIC obtained from this study ranged from ≤ 0.63 to 10 mg/mL.
The biofilm inhibition demonstrated BIC50 values of V. erioloba and O. stricta extracts
ranged from ˂ 0.08 to 0.498 ± 0.017 mg/mL. Moreover, biofilm eradication revealed
BEC50 values ranged from < 0.08 to 0.172 ± 0.008 mg/mL. The GC-MS analysis of
V. erioloba seed extracts revealed the presence of phytosterols, acids, esters, α-
tocopherol and α-amyrin, which comprises a number of known bioactive compounds.
The results from this study show that V. erioloba and O. stricta extracts possess
antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm properties, making these plants good
potential sources of antioxidants and antimicrobial agents. The findings of this study
support the traditional uses of V. erioloba and O. stricta
An analysis of factors influencing the financial performance of Namibian fuel stations in Helao-Nafidi town
No full textThe Master of Business Administration Management
Strategy degreeThis study sought to analyse factors that have an impact on the financial performance
of fuel stations at the Helao Nafidi town in the Ohangwena region, in terms of risk
management, high fuel prices, the pandemic (COVID-19, logistic management (stock
arrival) and the role of government in mitigating losses of financial performance. This
study used explanatory sequential research design. It adopted a mixed methodology
approach in which data was collected using a questionnaire for the quantitative part
and for the qualitative part, an interview guide was used. To achieve this, the study
used multiple regression analysis, based on a sample size of 32 participants and the
results reveal positive impacts of risk management and stock arrival on business
performance while high fuel prices and pandemics reveal negative impacts on business
performance for fuel stations at the Helao Nafidi town in the Ohangwena region.
Moreover, the study followed up on these findings qualitatively to explore the role that
the government can play to mitigate business performance losses for the fuel stations
due to pandemics, which go hand in hand with high fuel prices using reflective
thematic analysis in NVivo. This analysis was based on the data collected from 12
interviewees using an interview guide and results revealed two themes, each with two
codes. The first theme was on controlling the rivalry with two codes as oil/fuel
smuggling control and the protection of the borders. The second theme was selfreliance
that is associated with two codes as own oil discovery and giving subsidies.
Thus, the study applied an explanatory sequential research design. Lastly, qualitative
findings serve as policy recommendations while in terms of directions for future
studies, the study suggests future research focus on other regions that are not severely
affected by oil/fuel smuggling in Namibia from Angola, as well as to assessing the
impact of the pandemic on business performance for companies in other sectors.
Keywords: Business performance, risk management, high fuel prices, COVID-19
pandemic, multiple regression analysis, reflective thematic analysi
The asymmetric nexus between regional trade and economic growth: A case for Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of science in economicsThis paper investigates the nonlinear nexus between trade and economic
growth at a country level against that of regional level using Namibia as a
laboratory provoked by inconsistent, diverging and polarized evidence in
antecedent literature. The study uses a multilayered approach to measure the
impacts of trading with regional blocs on Namibia’s economic growth
compared to that of trading as a sole country and the direction of causality
between trade and growth. For country (regional) level analysis, annual time
series (panel) data over 1980-2020 (2005-2020) was employed to assess the
nonlinear relationship between trade and economic growth in the short and
long term for Namibia and its regional blocs partners. The study employs the
nonlinear ARDL (NARDL), which allows for a distinction between the effect
of positive and negative shocks in the underlying policies. The Wald tests for
robustness validity of asymmetric relations was applied. Findings reveals that
increased exports are positively related to growth at all levels, while increased
imports were found to be contributing to growth only at regional levels. When
comparing country level results against regional results, findings show that
Namibia benefits more in terms of exports when trading as a sole country.
While, in terms of imports, Namibia benefits more by trading with regional
blocs. Results show that negative shocks in exports have huge impact than
positive shocks at country level, while at regional level, positive shocks have
huge impact than negative shocks. Moreover, causality results reveal
bidirectional causality between exports and economic growth as well as
between exports and imports at regional and country level. To absorb
Namibian exports towards accelerated growth benefits more value addition
across the SADC, SACU and CMA and structural reforms fostering regional
trade are recommende
Challenges chemistry teachers face in implementing the new NSSCO chemistry curriculum in Otjozondjupa region during the COVID-19 national lockdown
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of education in curriculum, instruction and assessment studiesThe outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools around the world to make an
abrupt shift from face-to-face to remote teaching and learning. This study investigated
challenges Chemistry teachers face in implementing the new NSSCO Chemistry
curriculum in Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia, during the COVID-19 national
lockdown. The study is underpinned by the Theory of Curriculum Implementation of
Rogan and Grayson, as a theoretical framework. The study adopted an explanatory
sequential mixed methods approach, comprising of two phases. In the first phase, a
questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data from all (32) Grade 10 and 11
Chemistry teachers from Otjozondjupa Region. In the second phase, semi-structured
interviews were used to collect qualitative data from 12 teachers purposively selected
from the original sample. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to
analyse the quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The study determined that
Chemistry teachers utilised multiple strategies to provide learners with inclusive
education through remote teaching and learning. However, teachers experienced
difficulties such as inadequate resources and a lack of technological competency to
effectively teach Chemistry remotely. Other challenges included: difficulties accessing
and staying in contact with learners; inability to engage learners in virtual lessons due to
a lack of electronic devices and internet connectivity particularly on the learners’ side;
nonfulfillment of practical work and difficulty in assessing learners during remote
teaching. In consideration of the findings, several recommendations were made,
including the recommendation that national government should provide schools with
adequate technological facilities and furnish unequipped science laboratories, and
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Chemistry teachers should be offered pedagogical training programmes to equip them
with e-learning teaching competencie
An assessment of the effects of the gender gap on accessing finance in Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master in business administration- FinanceThis study focused on assessing the effects of the gender gap on accessing finance in
Namibia. Cross-sectional data for the fourth financial Inclusion Survey of 2017 was used.
The study used econometrics techniques of t-tests, Pearson Chi-square tests, and the probit
model to examine the effects of the gender gap on access to finance. The t-test results
revealed that for the transaction and payment services (TPS) Model, males' mean
proportion of accessing finance was higher than females. Further, it was revealed that
accessing finance through savings facilities (SF) was skewed towards males. The t-test
results for credit access (CA) indicated a slightly higher mean proportion of finance access
for females compared to males. Finally, the results of the t-test suggested that the mean of
accessing finance through the formal financial product (FFO) for males was higher than
that for females. Meanwhile, the probit results revealed a significant negative effect of
gender disparity on access to finance through TPS and FFO towards males. However, for
the models of SF and CA, a significant positive effect of gender disparity on access to
finance was found for females. Meanwhile, when exploring the effect of gender disparity
on access to finance across Namibian regions, it was found that for TPS, access to finance
was lower amongst females across all the regions. For SF, it was found that there was a
gender gap in access to finance across regions, with males having higher access to finance
in most regions. Further, for CA it was discovered that with a few exceptions, men
generally had higher access to finance than women across all regions. Finally, regarding
FFO, it was revealed that access to finance was lower amongst females across all the
regions. With this, it is recommended that with the gender gap in accessing finance,
Abstract
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policymakers should implement policies that aim to reduce this gap. For instance, they
can introduce gender-specific financial products, increase financial literacy among
women, and provide financial support to women-owned businesses, specifically through
TPS and FF
An assessment of the performance appraisal processes in the human resources directorate of the ministry of agriculture water and land reform head office
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master in business administration management strategyThis study asses the performance appraisal processes as one of the most commonly used
management tools in Namibia for assessing the performance of public sector employees.
However, a few studies have been completed on how the performance appraisal processes
can be improved. This study is qualitative and quantitative methods sought to assess the
performance appraisal processes in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform
(MAWLR). The key areas investigated included employee participation, performance
appraisal processes implementation, feedback and review sessions, linking performance
appraisal to strategic objectives, fairness and rewards. The population of the study
consisted of 30 Human Resource Department officials as the researcher used a purposive
sampling procedure and questionnaires were used as the research instrument to collect
data from both management and non-management personnel and the data was processed
and analysed using thematic analysis. The respondents’ opinions, experiences,
knowledge, and understanding were compared with the information discussed in the
literature review to identify gaps and shortcomings. The findings establish that, there is
no defined or sound performance appraisal process that is effective in evaluating employee
performance and the current process is disjointed which results in the whole process in the
Ministry not to be effective. The study reveals that, monetary rewards and recognition in
various forms might encourage the public service employees to work hard, which will
lead to effectiveness of implementation of the performance appraisal scheme. On
recommendations, the researcher recommends that, the Ministry’s management through
the Office of the Prime Minister should provide extensive education and training to all the
public sector employees on the measures to be applied on the implementation of the
performance appraisal processes and to introduce reward schemes to the appraisal system
as an incentive for good performance