Annual Report - University of Namibia

which students were posted to almost allcorners of Namibia and were supervisedby the Faculty’s staff as part of a policy tomarket the University of Namibia to Grade12 learners at the schools visited duringteaching practice.Some members of staff moderatedexaminations of other Universities in theregion. Some examined Masters and/or PhD dissertations and theses at theseUniversities.During 2009, the Faculty of Educationbecame actively involved in the process ofintegrating the Colleges of Education intothe University of Namibia after a Cabinetdecision to merge with the Colleges as ofApril 1, 2010.Since the introduction of the new B.Ed. curricula in 2008, all staff memberswere involved in the programme withthe Curriculum Compilation Committeeleading the process. It is encouraging tonote that, as of January 2010 all Facultydegree and diploma offerings were to bebased on the new and revised curriculum.In addition, 2009 saw the revision of the M.Ed programmes in all Departments.The Faculty recruited four new members ofstaff. Two of these joined the Departmentof Curriculum Instruction and AssessmentStudies, with specialisations in Assessmentand English teaching, respectively. Onejoined the Department of Mathematics,Science and Sport Educationstrengthening the Home Economics fi eldof the Department which had hithertoonly one member of staff, while the fourthnew member of staff joined the Departmentof Educational Psychology and InclusiveEducation specialising in Counselling andGuidance. One Faculty member obtainedhis doctorate through the Staff DevelopmentProgramme of the University adding to thepool of highly qualified staff members in theFaculty and Namibia as a whole.Seven of the Faculty’s staff members werepursuing doctoral studies. The majority areon the verge of obtaining their doctorateswith either UNAM or Universities in theregion. It is hoped that this will add to thenumber of highly qualifi ed staff membersin the Faculty who will drive the newlyrevised and to be developed academicprogrammes. Members in the Facultywere actively involved as members ofseveral professional associations andsocieties locally and internationally.Some members served as Chairpersons,team leaders or coordinators of theseassociations or societies.The Department of Curriculum, Instructionand Assessment Studies operated atmaximum capacity. Two new membersof staff joined the department at thebeginning of 2009. Both colleagues camewith a wealth of experience in educationas they have been associated withschools, colleges and regional offi ces inNamibia.The Department of EducationalFoundations and Management madesignifi cant progress during the yearunder review in teaching, research andcommunity service and post-graduatestudent supervision. It had seven staffAnnual Report 2009 -29-