Job Characteristics

       Pre-primary teacher

The task of the pre-primary teacher is to provide an environment for children below primary-level school age, which is physically and psychologically educational, safe and stimulating, by

Organizing group and individual playing activities, which support and promote physical, mental and social development of children.

Promoting language development through role-playing, story-telling, singing, informal conversations and discussions.

Supervising activities to ensure safety and resolve conflicts.Primary teacher
The primary teacher has versatile tasks, which include amongst others, the transfer of knowledge and the development of the child’s character and a sense of responsibility.

His/her tasks include:

Preparing the annual programme of the learner, and teaching and facilitating in areas such as reading, writing, arithmetic and other subjects within the prescribed or recommended curriculum.

Preparing and administering homework, tests and other assignments.

Encouraging the personal development of a child and giving supportive counselling.Secondary teacher
Secondary-education teachers teach one or more subjects for formal educational purposes at some or all levels between the termination of primary education and the beginning of tertiary education (i.e. grades 7 to 12). Tasks include:

Preparing the annual programme of learning, teaching and facilitating in areas such as reading, writing, arithmetic and other subjects within the prescribed or recommended curriculum.

Preparing, administering and marking tests and examinations to evaluate pupils’ progress.

Preparing reports about the standard of work achieved by students and conferring with other teachers and parents.Special-education teachers:

The special education teacher works with children that have speech and learning disabilities or other handicaps such as blindness, deafness, and epilepsy. These children require specialized attention and are taught through specially developed instruments and techniques.

Teachers in all fields are required to do administrative work, which include tasks such as completing registers, drawing up schedules, and attending meetings. Teachers also organize, assist in and supervise extra-curricular activities concerning sports, culture, clubs and societies. 

Requirements

Secondary Education
Possession of at least a HIGCSE/IGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, is required to be admitted to teacher training colleges. UNAM further requires a minimum of 25 points on the UNAM point evaluation scale, as well as passes in five subjects.

COLSA offers a Diploma in Education and a Higher Education Diploma: Secondary for school-leavers with a HIGCSE or IGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification. Entry requirements to these courses are lower if comprehensive experience in the teaching field has been obtained. For people with post-secondary qualification, i.e., degree or diploma, a bridging certificate and subsequent degree in Education is offered.

Recommended subjects
Depends on the subject(s) the candidate would like to teach.

Tertiary Education
UNAM offers a four-year Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.) degree as well as a Master’s degree in Education (M. Ed.). Furthermore a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and a Specialized Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education can be obtained from UNAM.

The Windhoek, Ongwediva, Caprivi and Rundu Educational Colleges offer a ‘Basic Education Teaching Diploma (BETD)’ for primary school teachers. This is a three-year diploma course. At these colleges students can qualify to teach either in grades 1 to 7 or grades 5 to 10.

The following specialization options are available: lower primary, mathematics and science, languages, social sciences, arts, commerce, technical studies, agriculture, life science and home ecology. Financial assistance from the Ministry of Higher Education, Vocational Training, Science and Technology are available to prospective students.

COLSA offers a Diploma in Education throughout Namibia for teachers with previous experience and/or other qualifications.

Personality
The prospective teacher should be a mature, tactful, disciplined and tolerant individual. Good communication skills and a sense of responsibility are further characteristics of the competent teacher.

Work Opportunities
Teachers are employed by private and public schools. Experienced teachers can offer private classes. Job prospects are very good, especially for English, Mathematics, Science and Computer Science teachers.

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