Nangula Shejavali
25 November 2008
"If the switch to English as a medium of instruction is to occur adequately, teachers will need intensive and ongoing training in English to improve their competencies," says an evaluation report on the National Literacy Programme in Namibia.
The report was compiled by a team of consultants for the Directorate of Adult Education in the Ministry of Education, and focuses on the major aspects of planning, organisation, implementation and impact in adult education, which is part of the Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP).
Namibia currently has an 85 per cent adult literacy rate.
The report states that the problems associated with the use of English in adult education have been exacerbated by the poor English levels of teachers, and recommends that a serious effort be made for them to enhance not only their general English language skills, but also that this is done around the themes or subjects that they teach.
"The development of the capacity of adult educators needs to be high on the policy agenda to ensure that educators are sufficiently qualified and competent to deliver quality education," it reads.
The poor English level of teachers has been continuously highlighted as a contributing factor to the poor performance of students, not only in adult education, but throughout the education system, and especially in primary schools, where sound foundations in the English language are supposed to be set.
With regard to the teachers, the evaluation is said to have "confirmed the need to develop and professionalise the cadre of promoters," many of whom have been in the system for over six years.
"Professionalising promoters and improving their conditions of service and workplace conditions are crucial to the success and quality of adult basic education," says the report.
In addressing the language gap in improving adult literacy, the report recommends that the Directorate of Adult Education examine the possibilities of bilingual materials, "at least with case studies in the mother tongue, and with new concepts being introduced alongside these."
According to the report, current materials used in adult education indicate an enormous leap from mother tongue to concepts.
To this effect, a number of possible approaches are set forth, including ways in which to help learners increase their English vocabulary and writing skills using their mother tongue as a platform.
In addition to calling for reform in addressing the use of English as a medium of instruction, the report also emphasises the need for the development of a curriculum framework, with strong consideration of the models for assessment and articulation.
The report also argues that English and mathematics should not be optional in adult upper primary education, stating that "learners cannot cope with the English materials or the English medium of instruction at that level without formal tuition in English."
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Namibian. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
