I embarked upon this study to investigate mathematics teachers' practices that have led to the persistence of traditional teaching methods in grade 9 mathematics classrooms in Rundu. The study was conducted from a learner-centred (L-C) perspective or reform approach in the Namibian context. It is a qualitative study oriented in the interpretive paradigm- a paradigm that seeks to understand the meanings attached to human actions. The participants involved in this study were purposively selected and they are composed of two mathematics teachers and their grade 9 learners. This study was conducted at two schools in Rundu. One is an urban school while the other one is a rural school on the outskirts of Rundu. The research tools employed in this study are questionnaires, interviews and observations. The questionnaires were used to identify and select my participants while the observations were used to investigate the participants teaching strategies. The purpose of the interviews was mainly to investigate teachers' understanding, interpretation and implementation of learner-centre education (LCE). Amongst other findings, this study reveals that inadequate teacher-training, controversial educational policies and challenges such as overcrowdedness in mathematics classrooms, lack of teaching and learning materials, lack of cooperation among mathematics teachers and learners' negative attitude towards mathematics are some of the contributing factors to the persistence of traditional teaching methods in mathematics classrooms. Moreover, the study reveals that the persistence of traditional teaching methods in mathematics classes can no longer be attributed to the lack of understanding of LCE. The teachers in this study seem to be well acquainted with the theoretical aspect of the LCE framework while the implementation aspect seems to be a concern.

This investigation looks at the role played by school-based studies in the development of reflective practice among student teachers at a Namibian college of education. Literature reviewed indicates that reflective practice helps teachers continually grow and enhance their professional insights and practices. The study focused on the perceptions and experiences of a group of teacher educators, support teachers and student teachers involved in a particular teacher education programme. A case study was chosen, and built up using an interpretive paradigm. This enabled the researcher to make meaning of information often taken for granted. Triangulation was used to ensure the development of as broad and authentic a picture of the case as possible. Key findings reveal that despite claims that Namibia’s three-year Basic Education Teacher Diploma programme (BETD) is explicitly designed to facilitate the development of critical reflective and reflexive practice in student teachers, the way in which aspects of the programme are implemented frequently undermines this design intention. A lack of careful and explicit mentoring on the importance of reflection for enhancing teaching, plus a measure of distrust between student teachers and teacher educators prevents college students from fully exploiting the opportunities afforded by school-based studies for the development of reflective skills.

This study is a contextual analysis and evaluation of the Arts-in-Culture curriculum at Ongwediva College of Education. Arts-in-Culture is one of the core subjects in the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD)’s Broad Curriculum. At colleges such as Ongwediva, Caprivi and Rundu, student teachers study Arts as a core subject, while at Windhoek College of Education it can be studied as either a major or a core subject. In this study, I have raised some questions: Why is it that at Ongwediva College, the status of Arts-in-Culture is still low in comparison to other curriculum subjects like sciences and languages? Do student teachers and teacher educators fully understand how to assess the subject? Is the syllabus open for everyone? Is the learning environment conducive to offering the subject? Do the syllabus; learning environment, teacher educators and student teachers promote the goals of education for all? This study first gives the historical background of the subject. The background is of a diverse nature, namely African Indigenous Arts education, Black Arts education under the missionaries, Black Arts education under the South Africa Regime and Arts Education in the current Namibian reform dispensation. Second, the data collecting methodologies of this study are discussed. This includes how I collected information, who I contacted to collect this information, the tools I used to collect data, when and where I used them, why they were used and how they were used, the difficulties or problems I encountered and what I have learned about myself during the process. The third part of this study is the analysis of my findings from the participants interviewed and the fourth is how I have tried to link these different sections together. The last part of the paper is my conclusion.

Science and Technology Education / M.Sc. (Chemical Education)

This qualitative study reports on critical reflective teaching by three mathematics teachers and how it shapes their classroom practice. The study was carried out in three secondary schools in Rundu in northern Namibia. The study employed a case study method. The selection of teachers was based on their rich practical professional knowledge and exemplary teaching practices. Data collection and analysis was done through an interpretive approach. Interviews and document analyses were the two research tools used, not only for the collection of data but for triangulation also. Interpretations of the findings were validated through member checking. Critical reflective teaching involves thought and action, and it raises teachers’ consciousness of what they do. Through critical reflective practice, teachers scrutinize their beliefs and knowledge of the subject and their practice. Furthermore critical reflective practice may get teachers into a disposition to find alternatives to improve their teaching. In this study, the findings are that participants reflect extensively on their classroom practice. The teachers pointed out that reflection on practice enables them to analyse and evaluate their teaching in line with effective mathematics teaching. They emphasised that critical reflection leads to the identification of weaknesses in teachers’ classroom practice. This culminates in better planning whereby alternative approaches to teaching are exercised. Because of its potential to improve teaching and enhance professional development it is therefore recommended that mathematics teachers be exposed to skills that enhance critical reflective teaching practice. Teachers need to familiarise themselves with the concept of critical reflective teaching in mathematics to meet the demands of superior quality teaching.

The research, investigating how a selected group of former BETD graduates understand and implement the theory of reflective practice, is a qualitative case study carried out in the Kavango region of Namibia. The study was shaped by one of the major policy emphases in Namibia’s post independence teacher education reform process - that of developing reflective teachers who actively participate in curriculum planning and take educational decisions based on their own judgment. A basic assumption underlying the study is that effective educational practice is dependent on practitioners thinking about what they are doing and acting on their reflections to improve practice. The study found that a fundamental problem preventing these teachers from implementing reflective practice in accordance with the Namibian educational reform process, is that the participating teachers neither understand the exact meaning of reflective practice nor do they have a common or shared view of the concept, in spite of their common qualifications. A key contributing factor to their problems with implementing reflective practice is the lack of a deep understanding of the reform epistemology and pedagogy revealed by the three former BETD graduates selected for the research. These are the teachers referred to in the first paragraph: The first teacher is Helena, a teacher at Duduva primary school, the second teacher is Kalishe, also teaching at the same school as Helena and the third teacher is Darius at Ntja Junior secondary school. The qualitative approach employed for the study served to illuminate and highlight specific issues related to the implementation of reflective practice that will be of considerable value for the researcher in her capacity as a teacher educator. These included among others: • The teacher’s need for an understanding of the key principles on which reflection is based and how to translate these into practice. • The need for teachers to have a clear understanding of the role that learners play in the reflective process. • The need to revisit the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) education programme, because for teachers to reflect they need a sound subject knowledge on which to base their judgments. These aspects, as well as the identification of the factors in the school system that contribute to the failure of reflective practice, provide a foundation for finding real solutions to the problems identified.

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The In-Service Basic Education Teacher Diploma Programme (BETD Inset Programme) is a Namibian educational programme under the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture. It is a unified general preparation for unqualified and partly qualified teachers in Basic Education, with opportunities for specialisation in both phases of schooling and in subject areas. It seeks to strike a balance between professional insight, skills and subject knowledge. A process of evaluation was implemented to assess the programme management and the programme workers’ knowledge, skills and expertise, including their choice of methodology for implementing the BETD Inset Programme. The aim of the programme evaluation was to determine the effectiveness and sustainability of the BETD Inset Programme. The problem statement of this study takes as its point of departure the prevalence of development programmes that are not implemented in an effective and sustainable manner, particularly in Third World countries. Many researchers and scholars have identified programme management as crucial to the effective implementation of development programmes. It is in response to this argument that this researcher decided to conduct a study on the National Institution for Educational Development (NIED)’s implementation of the BETD Inset Programme. The objective was to establish whether the existing programme management strategy implements the BETD Inset Programme effectively, and to explore the possibilities of recommending supporting strategy. This study also referred to the issue of gender balance in the appointment of BETD Inset Programme management staff. Qualitative methodology was used to obtain information from the BETD Inset Unit and Regional Education Offices, who play an important role in the implementation process of the BETD Inset Programme. The senior managers were interviewed and they provided information about the BETD Inset Unit management structures and the objectives achieved during the BETD Inset Programme implementation process. The implementation process plans set by the NIED were based on terms of reference provided by the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture to determine their effectiveness in achieving the set objectives. The literature review of this study reflects the conceptual categories identified from an overview of programme management objectives in development programmes and distance education programmes. These conceptual categories are based on management models that are useful for programme management evaluation. The conceptual categories point out characteristics fundamental to the effective implementation of the BETD Inset Programme. These characteristics were used to formulate measuring criteria, and they formed the basis for the analysis of the study’s results in chapter 5. BETD Inset Programme is defined as a distance education programme. It was deduced that the BETD Inset Programme faced a number of challenges, and that consequently the NIED management had to implement the programme with a limited infrastructure and work force. All these challenges are linked to one major factor, which is the lack of sufficient resources required for the effective implementation of the BETD Inset Programme in a sustainable manner. This study recommends that a strategy for potential stakeholder participation should be redesigned and effectively implemented, in order to secure sufficient resources to support the programme in a sustainable manner. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Indiensprogram vir ’n Basiese-Onderrig-Onderwysdiploma (BOOD-Insetprogram) is ’n Namibiese onderwysprogram onder leiding van die Ministerie van Basiese Onderrig, Sport en Kultuur. Dit is ’n samevattende algemene voorbereiding vir ongekwalifiseerde en deels-gekwalifiseerde onderwysers in Basiese Onderrig, met geleenthede vir spesialisering beide in skolingsfases en vakgebiede. As algemene doelstelling streef dit na ’n balans tussen professionele insig, vaardighede en vakkennis. Program-evaluering is gedoen ten einde die programbestuur en -werkers te beoordeel volgens hulle kennis, vaardighede en kundigheid, insluitend hulle keuse van metodiek vir die implementering van die BOOD-Insetprogram. Die mikpunt was om die effektiwiteit en volhoubaarheid van die BOOD-Insetprogram te bepaal. Die probleemstelling van die studie is daarop gebaseer dat ontwikkelingsprogramme, spesifiek in Derdewêreldlande, nie effektief en op ’n volhoubare manier geïmplementeer word nie. Navorsers en studente het die bestuur van ontwikkelingsprogramme as die sleutel tot die effektiewe implementering daarvan geïdentifiseer. Dit het daartoe gelei dat die navorser ’n studie onderneem het oor hoe die Nasionale Instelling vir Opvoedkundige Ontwikkeling die Indiensprogram vir ’n Basiese-Onderrig-Onderwysdiploma implementeer. Die doelwit was om vas te stel of die bestaande strategie vir programbestuur die Indiensprogram vir ’n Basiese-Onderrig-Onderwysdiploma effektief implementeer, en ook om ’n moontlike ondersteuningstrategie voor te stel. Die studie het ook die kwessie van geslagsbalans aangeraak ten opsigte van poste wat beklee word deur bestuurspersoneel wat die Indiensprogram vir ’n Basiese-Onderrig-Onderwysdiploma implementeer. ’n Kwalitatiewe metode is gebruik om inligting te verkry vanaf BOOD-Implementeringseenhede en Onderwysstreekkantore wat ’n sleutelrol vervul in die implementeringsproses van die BOOD-Aanvangsprogram. Onderhoude is gevoer met lede van die topbestuur wat ook inligting verskaf het oor die BOOD-Inseteenheid se bestuurstrukture, en doelwitte wat in die implementeringsproses van die BOOD-Insetprogram bereik is. Implementeringsplanne, daargestel deur die Nasionale Instelling vir Opvoedkundige Ontwikkeling aan die hand van riglyne van die Ministerie van Basiese Onderrig, Sport en Kultuur, word gebruik om vas te stel hoe effektief hulle hulle doelwitte bereik. ’n Literatuur-oorsig vir hierdie studie weerspieël die konseptuele kategorieë wat geïdentifiseer kan word uit die gesamentlike bestuursdoelwitte van ontwikkelingsprogramme en afstandsonderrigprogramme. Hierdie konseptuele kategorieë is gebaseer op bestuursmodelle wat ook aangewend kan word vir die evaluering van programbestuur. Die konseptuele kategorieë identifiseer fundamentele kenmerke vir die effektiewe implementering van die Indiensprogram vir ’n Basiese-Onderrig-Onderwysdiploma. Hierdie kenmerke is gebruik om evalueringskriteria te formuleer asook die basis daar te stel vir die ontleding van die studie se resultate in hoofstuk 5. Die Indiensprogram vir ’n Basiese-Onderrig-Onderwysdiploma word getipeer as ’n afstandsonderrigprogram. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat die Indiensprogram vir ’n Basiese-Onderrig-Onderwysdiploma uitdagings in die gesig staar wat die bestuur van die Nasionale Instelling vir Opvoedkundige Ontwikkeling noop om die program met beperkte infrastruktuur en menslike hulpbronne te implementeer. Al hierdie uitdagings hou verband met een hooffaktor, naamlik die gebrek aan voldoende hulpbronne vir die effektiewe en volhoubare implementering van die Indiensprogram vir ’n Basiese-Onderrig-Onderwysdiploma. Die studie stel voor dat ’n strategie herontwerp en effektief geïmplementeer word vir deelname deur potensiële belanghebbendes ten einde voldoende hulpbronne te verseker om die program op ’n volhoubare wyse te ondersteun.

This portfolio discusses various important aspects that affect teacher education. The portfolio has become an important tool for assessment in education. The research component of the masters' course that I attended is reflected in this portfolio. To complete this course several aspects were covered. The educational reform process in the Namibian context requires the use of appropriate resources, an environment conducive to learning, active involvement of the learners and teachers who should have a better understanding of the system adopted. Teacher educators are seen as important in transforming Namibian education in the sense of breaking the cycle of authoritarianism and inequities that existed in schooling prior to independence in 1990, and that still continue to exist in many Namibian schools today. Much effort has been devoted to creating conditions in colleges of education, where future teachers experience the same kind of teaching and learning that is envisioned for schools in the country. To accomplish this a great deal of effort has been devoted to the professional development of teacher educators. This masters' course was initiated to address the shortcomings of teacher education in Namibia. The preparation of teacher educators to be willing and able to prepare teachers in a manner that is consistent with national educational goals has been a neglected element of educational reform in Third World countries (Taylor and Peacock, 1997). Nahas Angula defines teachers as critical agents in creating the reform in relation to several broad principals: access, equity, quality, and democracy. As Ebbutt and Elliot (1998) point out, these principles are defined in very broad terms and provide the opportunity for teachers, teacher educators, and administrators to translate the ideals in particular contexts through practical reflection and deliberation. The Namibian reforms are underpinned by democratic ideals, the intention being to develop broad participation in defining and developing the reform tenets in specific contexts. In Namibia it has been recognized that qualitative changes in classroom practice will only occur when teachers understand them and accept them as their own. It is also recognized that because many teachers have been educated under the authoritarian system of the past, conceptual changes are needed in the minds of the teachers for the reforms to be successful. These include a shift from the belief of teachers as civil servants who are merely to "deliver" a curriculum dictated from above, to one of teachers as reflective professionals who play important roles in interpreting and defining the reforms and in giving meaning to such values as learner-centered and democratic education, continuous assessment, and critical inquiry (Swarts 1998). In the case of Namibia, we have a situation where there is an attempt to fundamentally transform an authoritarian education system that emphasized repetition and rote learning of received knowledge to one where learners are active participants in the learning process and where the curriculum is relevant to and respectful of different cultural traditions and communities. The learner-centered philosophy that guides post-independence educational reforms in Namibia calls for breaking down the authoritarian teacher-student relationships of the past. It encourages teachers to begin instruction by gaining an understanding of their learners' existing knowledge, skills, and understandings and to actively involve them in the learning process toward the goal of preparing citizens for a democratic society. The background above will help the readers to understand the sections covered in this portfolio. In the first part, the portfolio looks at a case study that analyses pre- and post-independence teacher education in Namibia. This study focuses on the Rundu College of Education and investigates the implementation of the Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) Broad Curriculum in relation to the History syllabus. This paper presents information on what led to post-independence teacher education reforms in Namibia and why the reform was necessary. The BETD Broad Curriculum advocates the principles underpinning teacher education reforms in Namibia. The analysis looks at whether the History syllabus applies the principles of teacher education reform in relation to practice in the classroom. This paper addresses the historical background of a History curriculum, which shows the importance of a contextual understanding of the theoretical framework. The second paper looks at the theories underpinning the pre- and post-independence curriculum and the reform process in Namibia, how each theory views knowledge and why a decision was taken to apply them. The third paper is a literature review that links the epistemological ideals of reform to the classroom situation. This paper provides the basis for a small-scale empirical research. The research proposal included in the portfolio emerged from the earlier studies and identifies a key area for investigation within the domain of my particular area of teaching. The identified research problem investigated is presented in the final paper of the portfolio. These research findings can be applied to different situations in different schools. The portfolio is completed by the presentation of a short reflection of the role of the portfolio in this masters' course.

This Portfolio was submitted in 2005 to Rhodes University as a Research Portfolio presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in General Education Theory and Practice. The Portfolio consists of seven (7) key parts. The reader of this Portfolio is courteously informed that the structure of this portfolio is to some extent differ from the thesis structure. Thus, the reader should be attentive not to weigh against the two. Further more, I hereby declare that this portfolio is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of references indicated at the end of each part. Part 2 and 6 are the core parts of the portfolio. The focal point of part 2 is the contextual curriculum analysis of Grade 8-10 Oshindonga Curriculum in order to investigate its implementation in four educational circuits: Oshigambo, Onathinge, Onyaanya and Omuthiya in Oshikoto Region. Based on the findings of this analysis, lack of critical inquiry and reflective practice among Oshindonga teachers was identified as one of the major obstacles that preventing the effective implementation of the curriculum. Most of these teachers are Basic Education Teacher Diploma (BETD) postgraduates. Thus, part 3 and 4 were developed as supplements to inform the main research paper (part 6) which is related to teacher's professionalism in the classroom. The focus of part 3 (literature review) was on the teacher as a reflective practitioner. This is in line with the Namibian Education Policy, which identifies reflective practice as the heart of teacher professionalism. In this part, I explored a variety of views related to the notion of professionalism in teaching. I have also focused on views related to teacher's professional development both on macro and micro levels. These views provided a clarification and an underpinning framework on which to base my analysis of reflective practice as professionalism in education. Part 4 (education theories) focused on the digging of understanding of knowledge as an important theoretical domain of behaviourist and constructivist theories. I have tried to establish how the two theories (Behaviourist and Constructivist) view knowledge and its acquisition and to gain an understanding of how the two theories have been informing the practice. Subsequently, part 6 meant to investigate and assess the extent to which Basic Education Teacher Diploma postgraduate teachers are autonomously applying the theory of critical inquiry and reflective practice in the classroom. Both part 2 and 6 have findings. There is much correlation between the issues and problems in the implementation of the curriculum as identified in part 2 and the findings of the main research paper (part 6). Though critical inquiry and reflective practice is the key journey towards a high level of reflectivity and one of the significant characters of teacher professionalism in the classroom, most issues and problems identified were related to the insufficient practice of critical inquiry and reflective practices. Low correlation was found between critical inquiry and reflective practice theory and teachers' practices in the classroom. Despite to the fact that various rationales were mentioned as to why critical inquiry and reflective practice successful implementation is not taking place, the study positioned an emphasis on team working at school, cluster and circuit base that could contributed to a great extend to making teachers more competent and supporting themselves in mastering the applicable critical inquiry and reflective practice skills.

This study reports on the extent to which selected mathematics teachers facilitate the teaching and learning of geometry at the van Hiele levels 1 and 2 at a Grade 10 level in selected schools in Namibia. It also addresses and explores the teaching strategies teachers employ in their classrooms. Kilpatrick et al.’s model for proficient teaching and the van Hiele model of geometric thinking were used to explore the type of teaching strategies employed by selected mathematics teachers. These two models served as guidelines from which interview and classroom observation protocols were developed. Given the continuing debate across the world about the learning and teaching of geometry, my thesis aims to contribute to a wider understanding of the teaching of geometry with regard to the van Hiele levels 1 and 2. There are no similar studies on the teaching of geometry in Namibia. My study concentrates on selected Grade 10 mathematics teachers and how they teach geometry using the van Hiele theory and the five Kilpatrick components of proficient teaching. As my research looks at teaching practice it was important to deconstruct teaching proficiency with a view to understanding what makes good teachers effective. The results from this study indicated that the selected Grade 10 mathematics teachers have a good conceptual understanding of geometry as all of them involved in this study were able to facilitate the learning and teaching of geometry that is consistent with the van Hiele levels 1 and 2.