UNAM Open Access Journal University of Namibia
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Get PDFShe spoke in a language I could not understand,but through her emotions, I felt every word she said.She had gone through the unimaginable,and holds awful memories that can never be wiped away.She was only thirteen,a little girl that could never again play
Investigating the relevance of preparatory mathematics in three selected kindergartens in the Zambezi region of Namibia
Get PDFThis paper is based on a qualitative case study which investigated the relevance of preparatory mathematics in three selected kindergartens in the Zambezi Region of Namibia. A snowball sampling procedure was used, were each successive participant was named by a preceding individual. Eighty – three (83) kindergartens children aged 5 – 6 years old and four (4) kindergarten teachers took part in the study. The data was collected by means of two methods namely documents analysis and semi – structured interviews which provided a degree of cross checking of claims. The main findings of the study were that the preparatory mathematics is unique, interesting and relevant to the kindergartens and further has basic elements of mathematics that is appropriately connects to the mathematics taught at junior primary, senior primary, junior and senior secondary and the tertiary institutions
Optimisation of a hybrid PV-diesel system for rural application: The case of Oluundje village, Namibia
Get PDFThe absence of electricity in remote and rural areas is one of the major challenges faced by many poor and developing countries. Hybrid energy systems (HES) based on photovoltaics (PV) are considered to be an effective option to electrify remote and isolated areas, which are far from conventional grids. This is true for areas that receive high averages of solar radiation annually. This research investigation involves the modelling, simulation and optimization of a PV-Diesel hybrid system for Oluundje village in Namibia. A site survey was conducted in a form of questionnaires and interviews for the purpose of load forecasting and system modelling. HOMER software was used to design and model the proposed hybrid energy system. Costs of different components, hourly solar radiation, and rating parameters are inputs of the simulation program. Sensitivity analysis was carried out using Homer. The optimal PV-Diesel hybrid system and diesel-generator-only system were compared both technically and economically. Based on simulation results, it was found that electrifying a remote village using a PV-diesel hybrid system is more advantageous when compared to the diesel-generator-only system as it has lower operating costs and emissions. This system may be used as a preliminary design to guide in the planning and modelling of similar systems for other remote villages. diesel-generator only system, net present cos
Potential application of the Moringa species as natural supplements In Namibia: a review
Get PDFThe members of the Moringaceae tree family show promise as good dietary sources of essential nutrients. Moringa oleifera is the most researched species of Moringa trees and has gained much recognition for its exceptionally high nutritional value. It is particularly rich in minerals, such as calcium and iron which are essential for growth and development. Indigenous to Namibia, Moringa ovalifolia is one of the under-recognized species which could potentially carry the same nutritional importance as M. oleifera. Malnutrition remains a major public health problem in Namibia. On average27%of the Namibian population lives below the poverty line and are at risk of food in security. In times of persistent drought, micro nutrient malnutrition may become a wide spread occurrence. This paper explores the health benefits of nutrients found in M. oleifera and M. ovalifolia, with particular focus on their potential to alleviate nutrient deficiencies in Namibia
Another day in my life
Get PDFAs I lie on my mat in the still of the night, with only the intermittent sound of a laughing hyena in the far distance, I wonder what tomorrow will bring. The baby in my belly begins to kick as though reminding me that the little porridge that I had apportioned myself for supper was not enough for both of us. Since my husband left two months ago to live with his new wife, life has been even more difficult than before. At least when he was here I did not have to till the land on my own. But now I have to till the land, pound the corn, cook the meals – assuming there is something to cook, and take care of my three other children. And with a growing belly, doing household chores gets more and more difficult by the day. I’m thankful that I only have two more months to go before the baby comes. Then I can at least do the housework more comfortably while my mother tends to the baby
The Arabic stimulus to the Swahili language: A post-colonial balance sheet
Get PDFIt is generally accepted that Arabic has had a major impact on the growth of the Swahili language over the centuries. The meaning of this linguistic stimulus of Arabic, however, has been a matter of far lesser consensus in both the colonial and postcolonial dispensations. Does the Semitic influence reduce Swahili’s African credentials, and does it amount to some degree of linguistic Islamization? If so, is the development an argument in favor of or against Swahili in relation to its role as a language of Christianity and, later of national belonging and expression? And can one be anti-Arab and anti- Islam but pro-Swahili at the same time without having to dis-Arabize Swahili? These are some of the central questions addressed in this article, reflecting conflicting positions of various interest groups, even as Swahili’s own momentum and dynamism have increasingly neutralized the contestation over its identity
The treatment of equivalent relations in English-Kwanyama Dictionary
Get PDFThis paper investigates the treatment of equivalent relations in English-Kwanyama Dictionary (EKD) by G. W. R. Tobias and B. H. C Turvey compiled in 1954. For any bilingual dictionary to satisfy the needs of the target users, it should treat the equivalent relations effectively (Gouws, 2002; Gouws & Prinsloo, 2005 & Svensén, 2009). Although EKD was compiled 65 years ago, it seems no comprehensive study has been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness. Hence thispaper is an attempt to evaluate its treatment and the effectiveness of equivalent relations. The paper is couched on the text theory of Herbert Ernst Wiegand which deals with dictionary textual structures, function theory developed by Sven Tarp, and Henning Bergenholtz that focuses on dictionary functions as well as the user needs. In addition, lexicographic theory of communication developed by Beyer (2014) is employed to analyse EKD purposes. The findings reveal that full equivalence is treated well in EKD, but partial equivalence and zero equivalence have not been presented effectively in EKD. This paper recommends that EKD be revised extensively to present all types of equivalent relations adequately
Lessons from the implementation process of the merger between the University of Namibia Faculty of Education and former Colleges of Education in Namibia
Get PDFThis article is based on the implementation process of the merger between the University of Namibia and former colleges of education in Namibia. The aim of this article is to share some staff and student experiences of what transpired during the merger. The methodology used in this article reflects characteristics of both the quantitative and qualitative methodology.Questionnaires were used as research instruments for data collection. The article concludes that the general implementation process of the merger was slow, communication was very poor, stakeholder participation was very limited, pre-merger planning was not enough, time was not on the side of the university and unavailability of financial resources were a major obstacle to actual implementation
Teachers perception and awareness of Shona dialects vis-vis standard Shona in the Zimbabwean classroom: Implications for teaching and learning
Get PDFShona is a heterogeneous language in that a number of tribes use different dialects namely Karanga, Ndau, Manyika, Zezuru and Korekore. However, in educational circles the Zezuru dialect is regarded as ‘the language’ while the other speech forms are erroneously seen as deviations from the norm, and are therefore stigmatised. This means that learners come to school with a win-lose package depending on the dialect or variety they speak and that impacts on the teaching-learning process. The basic aim of this paper is to show that language variation, especially in Shona, can be an interesting area of study for educationists in indigenous languages. If a learner is given the opportunity to study in a context where language diversity is either discouraged or encouraged, consequently the gap between home and school can be either widened or narrowed depending on which variety of Shona the learner speaks. In light of that, this paper examines the problems faced by, what the layman calls, ‘non-standard’ dialect speakers of Shona in the Zimbabwean classroom. The paper also explores ways that can improve dialect awareness amongst teachers of Shona. The paper then concludes by arguing that dialect diversity should not be seen as a problem but as a resource to be utilised in the language classroom
Interrogating paradoxes in the multilingual provisions of the new 2013 Zimbabwean constitution
No full textThe general understanding that goes with ‘officialising’ a language is that, its status is raised and its functions are diversified so much that it may be used in all facets of life. This study interrogates the possibilities of translating this official recognition into actual practice. The main issues to be discussed are; respondents’ awareness of the multilingual linguistic provisions in the 2013 constitution, respondents’ attitudes towards the multilingual provisions of the 2013 Zimbabwean constitution and the dichotomy between separate development of related varieties and harmonising related varieties. The study further looks at the practical possibilities of implementing these provisions by examining the conduciveness of the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe for such a change. The study also questions the commitment of the Zimbabwe government in promoting linguistic pluralism given its failure to implement the provisions of the 1987 Education Act on languages to be taught and used in schools. The study found that there are contentious issues to be considered. The first contentious issue identified by this research is on the need to maintain the unity in the country. The study argues that there is need to balance the desires of unity in diversity without getting lost in idealism. Although this may give these varieties space in the education sector, the problem is that, only a handful of varieties were chosen from a cluster of several such varieties in a similar situation