UNAM Open Access Journal University of Namibia
Not a member yet
612 research outputs found
Sort by
An investigation of the awareness and exposure of young transport and logistics professionals to continuous professional development in Namibia
No full textThis paper investigates the awareness and exposure of the young professionals in the Transport and Logistics to Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The young professionals are students who are studying the Transport and Logistics professional qualification at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). This investigation is shaped by the school of thought that CPD should become integrated into the learning curriculum, before professional degrees are obtained and should be progressed after successful professional attainment. The purpose of this paper is to identify the key motivational factors why professionals need continuous improvement, and to understand exactly why a single qualification without further development no longer suffices. This paper further investigates whether CPD should be implemented in workplaces and made compulsory. Quantitative research will provide for more comprehensive findings, CILT students that have registered at the Namibian-German Centre for Logistics (NGCL) were chosen for this research. The sample size of 129 students studying part time at CILT were given questionnaires to complete. The results show that the majority of the young professionals at CILT were familiar with what CPD is. The investigation revealed that the students are aware that they are participating in CPD in one way or another. This study however shows that the students confuse professional bodies with universities, law and physical training institutions. The study shows that the intrinsic motivation for participation in CPD will propel Namibia forward as the students positively associate continuous learning with increasing skilled work force, reduce poverty and enhance innovative thought. Overall our research found a solid basis for the promotion and extension of a CPD culture and its principles in Namibian company HR departments, and the paper includes recommendations for in-company best practice in this respect
Sexual challenges (Khaedu dzaVhudzekani) affecting vhavenda divorcees in a church context: reflection on a case study of care and counselling within the reformed churches of South Africa in the Vhembe district
Get PDFThe main aim of this article is to explore the sexual challenges (khaedu dza vhudzekani) divorcees face as they relate to pastoral care and counselling in the church. The objectives of the study were (1) to identify and describe the sexual challenges of divorcees as they relate to pastoral care and counselling in the Reformed Churches of South Africa within the Vhembe District, and (2) to contribute towards the development of an African-orientated approach to pastoral care and counselling to sup-port the Vhavenda divorcees with challenges (khaedu dza vhudzekani) after the pain of divorce and this challenge affects their faith and their practical lives. This study argues that caring and counsel-ling for divorcees should be one of the primary missions of the church. The case study involved believers who are members of the Reformed Churches of South Africa: Synod Soutpansberg, particularly the churches that minister to the Vhavenda people in the Vhembe District Municipality in the Limpopo Province in South Africa. The research employed a qualitative method, with triangulation of data as a method to validate the data collection. The findings of this study show that divorcees experience many sexual challenges, and that Reformed pastors are not doing enough to address those challenges. The findings and recommendations of the study could be useful in guiding pastors in providing pastoral care and counselling to divorcees. The article proposes a new approach of supporting church members who divorcees and who are experiencing sexual challenges
Environmental protection using indigenous knowledge (IK) methods and skills for sustainability: a case study in the Kavango East and West regions
Get PDFThe analysis presented in this study draws from a theoretical framework that sees indigenous knowledge (IK) and discourse as important features of ethno-science publication in Namibia. The study aims to make a meaningful contribution to an on-going debate about IK in Namibia and the world over, the use of IK in the construction of knowledge about ethno-science, and to the analysis and exploration of IK. As such the study looks at the process of authenticating ethno-scientific arguments, knowledge and skills, providing a clear understanding of how IK is used to protect the environment. The study of IK has been concerned with traditional rural activities such as farming methods. The findings and knowledge produced by some IK studies seem to have been arranged as a system of perception rather than real scientific knowledge. The notion put forward is that science rests on facts and evidence, and that it is therefore detached from humanistic rural activities. However, this research paper provides an investigation and exploration of the possible significance of IK for environmental protection. Similtaneously the paper offers an understanding of the place of IK in relation to so-called ‘hard’ scientific knowledge
The gap between grade 5 learners and their English Second Language competency: Should we be worried?
Get PDFIn Namibian (public) schools, Lower Primary learners (pre- primary- Grade 3) are taught through their mother tongue and switch to English as the language of learning and teaching from Upper Primary phase (Grade 4 onwards). Upper Primary phase teachers are therefore faced with the challenges of developing learners’ cognitive and academic skills which learners need to study other subjects that are taught in English. This paper explore factors that constraint four different Upper Primary phase teachers from four different schools in the northern part of Namibia to effectively teaching teach their subjects. A qualitative interpretive approach was used to explore the factors that constrain teachers from effectively teaching their subjects. Data collection methods consisted of interviews, classroom observations and document analysis. Analysis of the data reveals that the syllabus are way ahead of learners’ actual competency in English Second Language. In addition, data reveals that when learners come into the Upper Primary phase, they have such a poor foundation that they continue to learn little and lag behind grade appropriate outcomes throughout their school career
Investigating students’ motivations to learn French Foreign Language at the University of Namibia
Get PDFThis paper is based on a case study carried out to instigate the motivation in students studying French as a foreign language in a tertiary institution, in an Anglophone country. There is general consensus among applied linguists that all learning is stimulated by motivation. The type of motivation is a determining factor in a student’s performance. This study presented a first of its kind in a Namibian context. Using Gardner’s self-determination theory, the study sought to establish motivation patterns in students of French as a foreign language; to determine the attitudes of students towards the French language, culture and its speakers; and to determine students’ objectives of learning French. Using Gardner’s theory, the concurrent mixed methods approach, a questionnaire was administered to the participants. The study revealed that the French community enjoys a positive image among students. However, a lack of exposure to Francophone speakers outside the classroom was a demotivating facto
Spirit medium language mediation: A neglected form of interpreting?
Get PDFWhile the need for interpreting has been growing as can be evidenced by intensification of research on interpreting and establishment and expansion of interpreting institutions and course programmes worldwide, the interpreting research landscape has been devoid of insightful research on African indigenous forms of interpreting. Using the Bhasukuma1 spirit medium transcendental language mediation (henceforth TLM) as a case study, the present paper examines interpreting definitional criteria in a bid to make a comparison with TLM features and determine what the comparison may reveal with regard to the relationship between interpreting and TLM. To achieve this objective, the researcher used literature research to glean the criteria used by previous interpreting scholars to define the concept interpreting, after which the criteria were used as an observation schedule for fieldwork observations. Results indicate that TLM exhibits all of the criteria used in defining interpreting. The present paper, therefore, concludes that the Bhasukuma spirit medium TLM is an indigenous form of interpreting, to which people have not been exposed and recommends that African scholars should take the responsibility of educating and re-educating the world about their unknown realities to better the understanding of the same
A needs analysis for the implementation of a complementary course in Mathematics education for teachers of Mathematics in Namibia: A case study of the BETD graduates
No full textAfter the introduction of the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) in Namibia, a number of studies were conducted on how teachers, lecturers, stakeholders and the Namibian public perceived the BETD program and its implementation. However, very few studies focused specifically on mathematics subject content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge in the BETD. This paper reports on a study which investigated the need for a complementary course for mathematics teachers to address the perceived lack of mathematical content and pedagogical knowledge in the Namibian BETD. The study involved five mathematics school teachers, two former mathematics college lecturers in the Kavango educational region and a professor of mathematics education at the University of Namibia. These participants were purposefully selected because of their knowledge and experiences with various aspects of the BETD program. And the data was collected by means of two methods namely documents analysis and semi-structured interviews. These methods complemented each other and also provided a degree of cross checking of claims
ICTs in teacher education: enhancing quality language teaching and learning in Zimbabwe
No full text113 Rapid advances in the development of ICT have been seen to offer new opportunities for enhancing the quality and effectiveness of language teaching and learning. The computer offers educators immense possibilities, and has been widely used, in computer assisted language learning (CALL). CALL has made significant advances towards finding a solution to and changing the way that language courses are conceived and taught. Although CALL developments tended to follow behaviouristic pedagogies that produced electronic imitations of drill and practice, for example, CALL now provides endless opportunities for interaction with a rich set of media types, characters and cultural information. However, educational institutions have lagged behind in fully recognising such opportunities. This prompts a call for re-orientation of education and training of language teachers. The paper therefore intends to guide teachers’ colleges on integrating ICT into their language learning and teaching activities. The guide is specifically aimed at language lecturers, lecturers-in-charge (LICs), heads of departments (HODs) and administrators in Zimbabwean teachers’ colleges while exploring the challenges of introducing ICT driven language education in traditionally face-to-face tertiary institutions in developing African countries
Beneficiaries; satisfaction with the School Counselling Services in Namibia : a case study of a selected region
Get PDFThe study investigated the education stakeholders’ (beneficiaries’) satisfaction with the school counselling services provided to them and their families. The study employed a mixed methods approach, hence both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. The population studied consisted of 288 learners, 142 principals, 68 teacher-counsellors and five parents from schools in Ohangwena region. Questionnaires and interviews (in-depth individual one-on-one semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions) were used to gather data. Quantitative data were analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data were analysed by the use of themes and coding. The study revealed that the beneficiaries were satisfied with the educational, personal/social, and career services, but were dissatisfied with consultation and referral services. It also emerged from the study that parents felt left out and not well enlightened on the value of school counselling services. Therefore, it is recommended that teacher-counsellors regularly hold awareness raising activities on school counselling services to educate parents and other stakeholders on the significance of these services and advocate for the needs of all learners
Stochastic behavior of South African rand exchange rate
Get PDFThe study of fluctuations of exchange rates is one of many active research areas in the international finance. This paper is concerned with modeling of exchange rates of the South African Rand, through which the Namibian Dollar accesses the international market. It uses some standard models and tools of quantitative analysis, such as Random walk, Martingale hypothesis, Auto Regressive model (AR), Auto regressive polynomial model (PN), Feed forward artificial neural network (NN), functional coefficient model and non-parametric regression model (NP), to closely look at stochastic behaviors of the South African Rand exchange rates against thirteen currencies of countries that are major trade partners to and within Southern African nations. Due to increasing international trade volumes, Southern African nations are more and more exposed to the international community, and trading in both goods and services that are affected to a large extent by movements in exchange rates