The enhancement of quality education using self-assessment strategies in the Zambezi region of Namibia

This sequential explorative mixed methods study aims to explore how selfassessment strategies can be used to enhance quality education in schools in the Zambezi region of Namibia. The researcher posits that teachers are key in enhancing quality education if accorded appropriate recourses to innovate and explore the use of self-assessment strategies in schools. A pragmatic research approach was used to guide this sequential explorative mixed methods study. The study sought participants’ perceptions on four sub-problems of the study: What entails quality and quality education? How can self-assessment strategies be linked to quality and quality education in general terms? What recourses are available to ensure that quality education is realised by the use of self-assessment strategies in the Zambezi region? How can self-assessment strategy models be developed to enhance the quality of education in the Zambezi region? Purposefully sampled school principals and heads of departments of five combined schools participated in the study. During the first phase, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the five participating school principals while the HoDs were engaged in a focus group interview. The qualitative data was later used to inform the design of the second phase of the study (quantitative). In the second phase, fifty-four teachers completed Likert-scale questionnaires which were analysed using IBM SPSS.19 and Microsoft Excel to compare with the qualitative data. This study revealed that schools have common understandings of quality and quality education albeit defined differently. The study also revealed that external professional support is inadequate to support teachers in continuous professional development activities. Furthermore, the study showed that the available recourses are seldom utilised to enhance quality education in schools. Finally, the study revealed that the use of one type of teacher self-evaluation (TSE) deprives innovative teachers from initiating and exploring other viable self-assessment strategies. Therefore, this study propagates the use of alternative self-assessment strategies that can contribute towards the enhancement of quality education in schools in the Zambezi region of Namibia.Educational Leadership and ManagementD. Ed

Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Sub-Saharan Africa

Current global population is estimated at 7.5 billion with 1.25 billion living in developed countries and 6.25 billion in less developed countries. Africa’s population is approximated at 1.25 billion with 1.02 billion in sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, an estimated 1.4 billion people lack access to electricity and 3 billion rely on solid fuels for cooking and space heating. Two thirds of those lacking access to electricity live in sub-Saharan Africa, whereas only about 16% of those in sub-Saharan Africa use modern energy forms as the primary cooking fuel. Lack of access to electricity has adverse socio-economic effects, while heavy reliance on solid fuels has negative socio-economic, health, and environmental impacts. Several initiatives are being undertaken to mitigate the situation; notable are future aspirations for universal access to clean and modern energy expressed in the 2030 sustainable development goals (goal number 7), 2063 African Union Commission Agenda, Paris Agreement, and the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All (SE4A). This chapter discusses the past and present energy situation and presents possible scenarios for a sustainable energy future in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular emphasis on Southern Africa

Zambia research situation analysis on orphans and other vulnerable children

This item is archived in the repository for materials published for the USAID supported Orphans and Vulnerable Children Comprehensive Action Research Project (OVC-CARE) at the Boston University Center for Global Health and Development.Addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and mitigating negative outcomes of the growing OVC population worldwide is a high priority for national governments and international stakeholders across the globe who recognize this as an issue with social, economic, and human rights dimensions. Assembling the relevant available data on OVC in one place, and acknowledging the gaps that still exist in our knowledge, will assist policy makers and program implementers to make evidence-based decisions about how best to direct funding and program activities and maximize positive outcomes for children and their caretakers. This Research Situation Analysis, Zambia Country Brief presents a program-focused summary of available information on: • The number of orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia • Current policies, programs and interventions designed and implemented to assist them • Gaps in these policies, programs and interventions • OVC research conducted between 2004-2008 • Gaps in the Zambian OVC evidence base. The Brief analyzes the available data for critical gaps in the national response and our understanding about whether current interventions are fulfilling the needs and improving the lives of vulnerable children. The report then recommends actions required to increase the knowledge base for improving the effectiveness and impact of OVC programs

Evolution and spatial variability of heavy metals in mussels (<i>Mytilus edulis</i> L.) in the Scheldt estuary (1996-2002)

This paper presents data on the heavy metal contamination of the soft tissues of marine mussels along the Scheldt Estuary. The study considered both arms of the Scheldt estuary, i.e. the relatively polluted Western Scheldt (WS) and the now marine tidal bay of the Eastern Scheldt (ES). The two systems present an ideal opportunity to investigate, in a field situation, the role of physico-chemical and pollution gradients on metal accumulation in mussels. In the WS, depending on the metal, tissues concentrations decreased by 2 - 6 times from Hansweert (the landward limit for mussels) to Westkapelle on the North Sea coast. Similar decreases were also observed in the ES. With a few exceptions (i.e. Cd, Cu), there were no clear differences in tissue metal concentrations between WS and ES. The study also showed strong positive correlations between tissue metal concentrations and distance from the sea in both systems for most metals. Similar trends were observed for both WS and ES indicating that salinity and metal gradients are not entirely responsible for increasing metal tissue levels towards the inland. Additionally, the influence of the constructed storm surge barrier was evident as heavy metal levels in mussels at sites around the barrier were considered elevated. Furthermore, there were only modest decreases in metal concentrations in mussel tissues between 1996 to 2002, further indication that even in the cleaner ES, efforts to reduce the impact of environmental metal pollution take time to give results

Are public works programmes effective in reinforcing social protection systems? Evidence from Northern Namibia

This paper analyses the effectiveness of public works programmes (PWPs) in creating employment, reducing poverty and reinforcing the existing social protection system in Namibia. Using data and information from a survey conducted in northern Namibia, it is established that while public works programmes have no significant effect on the employment status of participants beyond the programme lifespan, they nonetheless have a significant positive effect on their socio-economic well-being. PWP wages, which are significantly lower than those prevailing in the market for unskilled labour, are comparable to most of the existing social cash transfers and have a positive impact on poverty reduction. It is established that PWP wages are used by individuals and households to invest in economic assets as well as in improving access to basic social services - education and health - all of which serve to reinforce the well-developed social protection system. There is, however, a need to constantly review the wage level to be as near the prevailing market rates as possible; to ensure that the PWPs have an inbuilt mechanism for the transfer of the necessary skills; and to design complementary policies and programmes that promote long-term investments in rural areas so that PWPs can be more effective in reinforcing the existing social protection system

Kenya research situation analysis on orphans and other vulnerable children

This item is archived in the repository for materials published for the USAID supported Orphans and Vulnerable Children Comprehensive Action Research Project (OVC-CARE) at the Boston University Center for Global Health and Development.Addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and mitigating negative outcomes of the growing OVC population worldwide is a high priority for national governments and international stakeholders that recognize this as an issue with social, economic, and human rights dimensions. Assembling the relevant available data on OVC in one place, and acknowledging the gaps that still exist in our knowledge, will assist policy makers and program implementers to make evidence-based decisions about how best to direct funding and program activities and maximize positive outcomes for children and their caretakers. This Research Situation Analysis, Kenya Country Brief, presents a program-focused summary of available information on: • The number of orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya. • Current policies, programs and interventions designed and implemented to assist them. • Gaps in these policies, programs and interventions. • OVC research conducted between 2004 and 2008. • Gaps in the Kenyan OVC evidence base.The Brief analyzes the available data for critical gaps in the national response and our understanding about whether current interventions are fulfilling the needs and improving the lives of vulnerable children. The report then recommends actions required to increase the knowledge base for improving the effectiveness and impact of OVC programs.The USAID | Project SEARCH, Orphans and Vulnerable Children Comprehensive Action Research (OVC-CARE) Task Order, is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development under Contract No. GHH-I-00-07-00023-00, beginning August 1, 2008. OVC-CARE Task Order is implemented by Boston University. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agency

Densification of residential areas in Lusaka: the case of Chilenje.

Degree of Master of Spatial PlanningUrbanisation in Zambia has continued at a rapid pace since independence. Lusaka continues to attract new dwellers who need to be accommodated though it has grown and development sprawled beyond its boundary limits. The study on densification of residential areas in Lusaka with a focus on Chilenje, a former public housing area, sought to determine the nature of densification taking place in Chilenje. Establishing the forms of densification taking place, residents’ perception of the densification on the neighbourhood and the impact of densification on basic services provided in Chilenje were key to this study. Designed as a descriptive case study, purposive sampling was used to select the respondents and houses for the interview and observation, respectively. A total of 45 questionnaires were administered. Aerial satellite imagery of a part of the study area from 2004, 2010 and 2016 was also analysed to depict new development in each period. It was revealed from the field visits and aerial imagery that many houses have gradually been transformed mainly by constructing extensions or rooms for rental income or to accommodate the growing family. Though over half of the respondents had lived in Chilenje for more than 30 years, most of them perceived their area as the same with a few who mentioned an increase in population, improved services and development of new structures in their neighbourhood. Payments for services such as water, electricity and refuse collection by the households living on a given plot is pooled each month. It can be concluded that transformation of the housing area has taken place mainly through additional development of rooms for rent or to house family members. Increased number of residents entails that when planned well and guided, the established prospect for affordable rentals in a low-cost residential area could cultivate aesthetically pleasing and sustainable residential areas which are well serviced. To this effect, the study recommends that policies and strategies formulated for the area should be cognizant of planning needs that are appealing to residents such as the type of housing units and estimated costs

Analysing the reading comprehension strategies used by teachers to teach in urban primary schools of Mongu district of Zambia.

Thesis of n Master of Education in Literacy, Language and Applied Linguistics.Reading comprehension is multifaceted and intricate. The challenges the learner’s experience with reading comprehension demand for coordinated efforts by the teachers to help identify reading comprehension strategies and instructional approaches that can lessen the challenges that the learners undergo as they try to comprehend the texts provided to them to read. This study was conducted to determine the reading comprehension strategies used by the teachers and to ascertain the challenges of those reading comprehension strategies as perceived by the teachers. The sample size of the study included 11 teachers from four schools. The study employed purposive sampling technique in selecting the participants of the research. It employed qualitative data collection and analysis procedures which included interviews, observation and document review. Interviews were conducted to ascertain some of the issues underlying the themes of the research which were the strategies used to teach reading comprehension and the challenges perceived by the teachers as they interact with the strategies. Classroom observations were conducted using instruments that the researcher designed that provided in-depth information to the researcher. Documents such as lesson plans were reviewed to determine the strategies used by the teachers when teaching reading. The findings indicate that teachers in the targeted schools had limited knowledge about the strategies for teaching reading comprehension. However, it was observed that some of the strategies they utilised were questioning, read aloud, silent reading, vocabulary, discussion. Background knowledge and storytelling even when they could not tell what the strategies were. Despite the teachers using these reading comprehension strategies, the study revealed that most of the strategies used were not explicitly utilised by the teachers. Other challenges experienced by the teachers were limited reading materials such as textbooks which were not adequate for teaching reading. It was also observed that there was limited classroom space due to the free education policy which made classrooms to be filled by the learners. Truancy, lack of confidence due to failure to read by some learners, lack of reinforcement of necessary reading skills and failure to set a purpose for reading by the teachers were other challenges observed. Teachers exhibited lack of knowledge on how to improve their reading comprehension strategies but still made some suggestions which could help improve their approach to teaching reading comprehension. They suggested that deliberate policies on exchange programmes could be of help to them as they can be assisted by learning from their colleagues from other schools. Retraining in methodologies and techniques, reinforcement of workshops and teacher involvement in all available and ongoing programmes to do with the teaching of literacy could be of help to them and enhance their teaching strategies which they use to teach reading comprehension

Career maturity, career knowledge, and self knowledge among psychology honours students : an exploratory study

This study explores career maturity, self knowledge and career knowledge and how they influence career decision-making processes among psychology honours students at a South African institution of higher learning. A mixed method approach was used to collect data among (N=62) students who were asked to fill in two career development questionnaires namely, the Career Decision-making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ) and the Career Development Questionnaire (CDQ). 10 scales were measured using the CDDQ. Analysis of the CDDQ revealed moderate difficulties on the General Indecisiveness, Dysfunctional Beliefs and Occupational Information scales. Pertaining to the CDQ, 5 distinct scales which explore the levels of Self information (Self knowledge), Decision making, Career information (Career knowledge), Integration of self information and career information, and Career planning were assessed. Analysis of the CDQ revealed that respondents had adequate levels of career maturity. The results of the content analysis on the qualitative data indicate clinical psychology to be the most popular in relation to other fields of study, followed by research psychology counselling psychology and psychometry.Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Psychologyunrestricte