UNESCO Office in Windhoek 38-44 Stein Street, Klein Windhoek, P.O. Box 24519, Windhoek, Namibia
Researches share expectations on classroom practices in pre-and lower primary grades study
Action researchers working on classroom practices in pre– and lower primary grades met at five University of Namibia (UNAM) campuses in July 2015 to share experiences and to discuss the major highlights to be included in a national research report on the second phase of an inter- institutional collaborative action research initiative.
The consultations were held at the Southern, Khomasdal, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Rundu and Katima Mulilo Campuses of UNAM to prepare for the reporting of the action research, focusing on classroom practices in the pre- and lower primary grades of 28 case study schools in Namibia. Researchers, UNAM lecturers as well as government officials, mainly discussed teachers’ eagerness to learn and learners’ enthusiasm for new approaches, and the challenge of ICT integration in teaching and learning. Participation in the research also encouraged the lecturers to reflect on their own teaching practices.The second phase of the action research initiative which was launched last year implemented an intervention toolkit. The toolkit contains strategies and materials to improve instructional practices of five identified areas of challenge in the classroom.
The completed national research report of phase II of the action research will be available by September 2015 and disseminated to the public in the first week of October.
The action research initiative is part of the UNESCO/ Chinese Funds-in-Trust Project “Capacity Development for Quality in Pre- and Lower Primary Teacher Education in Namibia”, implemented by UNESCO in partnership with UNAM’s Faculty of Education, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation.
