The Impacts of the Namibian School Admission Policy on High School Learners

Download Article

DOI: 10.21522/TIJAR.2014.SE.19.01.Art002

Authors : Memoir Chimwamurombe, Ndinaani Mwashita

Abstract:

The impacts of the Namibian School Admission Policy on high school learners have major contributions to social problems experienced by stakeholders as learners advance with their education. Social problems such as sexual relations, substance abuse and learner drop-out have become a social trend. However, other factors like peer pressure and poverty should not be overlooked. Learners admitted in schools after the age of six (6) experience problems that makes them vulnerable. This leads to high academic failure rate, teenage pregnancy, drug addiction that eventually compromises the quality of education. Learners become adults whilst in high school and this conflict with policies and regulations in Namibia. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the impacts of the Namibian School Admission Policy on social behavior of leaners as they reach high school. A quantitative research method was used with learners from Grade 8 to 12 from five state secondary schools in Windhoek. The sample had 200 participants who were randomly chosen. A pilot study was used to test the instrument’s reliability. Data was collected using a closed questionnaire. Ethical considerations were implemented throughout the research process. Chi-square correlations and descriptive analysis were used to analyze data. Results were in the context of the study. Recommendations were given to address the observed social problems.

Keywords: policies, impact, adolescents and behavior.

References:

[1].     Babbie, E. and Mouton, J., 2006, The practice of social scienceS research. South Africa: Oxford University Press.

[2].     Bless C., Higson-Smith C., and Kagee A., 2006, Fundamentals of social research methods. An African perspective, (4th Ed) Cape Town: Juta and Co.

[3].     Cresswell, J. W., 2008, Educational research: Planning conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. (3rd Ed). New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

[4].     Deslandes, R., and Berthrand, R., 2005, Motivation of parent involvement in secondary-level schooling. The journal of Educational Research, 98(33): 164-175.

[5].     Edelman, A. (1995). "Effects of Social Reinforcement on Isolate Behavior of a Nursery School Child", Child Development 35 (2): 511–518.

[6].     Gliem, F., and Glem, R., 2003, Calculating, Interpreting and Reporting Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Coefficient of Likert Type Scales. Conference in Adult, Continuing and Community Education.

[7].     Hirschstein, M. K., Edstrom, L V. S., Frey, K. S., Snell, J. L. and MacKenzie P. E., 2007, Walking the Talk in Bullying Prevention: Teacher Implementation Variables Related to Initial Impact of the Steps to Respect Program.

[8].     Hirschstein, M. K., Leihua Van Schoiack, E., Frey, K. S., Snell, J. L., and MacKenzie, E. P., Committee for Children, Seattle, , Vol. 36, Washington School Psychology Review, pp. 3–21

[9].     Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., and Schulenberg, J. E., 2011, Monitoring the future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2010: Volume II, College students and adults ages 19–50. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research.

[10]. Kapitako. A., 2017, Hubbly- bubbly; a threat to public health. New Era March 3https://www.newera.com.na/2017/03/03/hubbly-bubbly-a-threat-to-public-health/

[11]. Kothari, C. R., 2008, Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, (2nd Ed). New Delhi: New Age International (P) Publishers.

[12]. Legal Assistance Centre. (2008). School Policy on Learner Pregnancy in Namibia: Background to Reform. Windhoek. Legal Assistance Centre. John Meinert Printing (Pty) Ltd.

[13]. Lloyd, C. B. and Hewett, P. C., 2009, Poverty, gender and youth: Educational inequalities in the midst of persistent poverty: Diversity across Africa in Educational outcomes. New York: Population Council, Working paper No. 14. Date of access: 2/11/2018. www.popcouncil.org/publications/wp.asp.

[14]. Malahlela, M. K., 2012, The effect of teenage pregnancy on the behaviour of learners at secondary schools in the Mankweng area, Limpopo. M Ed dissertation. Pretoria: UNISA

[15]. Mashishi N., and Makoelle T., 2014, Inclusion or Exclusion Ramifications of Teenage Pregnancy: A Comparative Analysis of Namibia and South African Schools Pregnancy Policies. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences Vol 5(14), MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy

[16]. Mckillup, S., 2006, Statistics Explained: An Introductory Guide for Life Scientists. Cambridge: University Press.

[17]. Ministry of Education, 2011, Free primary education in Namibia. Current context, John Menert Printing, Windhoek.

[18]. Ministry of Education, 2017, National Promotion Policy guide for junior and senior secondary schools phases. NIED, Okahanja.

[19]. Ministry of Education Arts and Culture, 2016, Survey Report: Towards a new education act for Namibia. Government Press, Windhoek.

[20]. Mouton, J., and Marais, H. C., 1996, Basic concepts in the methodology of the social sciences. Pretoria, HSRS Publishers.

[21]. Namibia Statistics Agency (2012). Namibia Household Income & Expenditure Survey (NHIES) 2009/2010. Windhoek: Namibia Statistics Agency.

[22]. Nekongo-Nielsen, H. & Mbukusa, N. R., 2013, The educational consequences of teenage pregnance in the Kavango Region. Journal for Studies in Humanities and Social

[23]. Parks, A. B., 2013, The effects of family Structure on juvenile delinquency. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2279. http://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2279

[24]. Pazvakavambwa, L., Indongo, N., and Kazembe, L. N., 2013, Explaining marital patterns and trends in Namibia: A regression analysis of 1992, 2000 and 2006 Demographic and Survey DataPLoS One. 8(8): e70394. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070394 PMCID: PMC3744526 PMID: 23967073 pregnancy in the Kavango Region, University of Namibia.

[25]. Reddy, A. N., and Sinha, S., 2010, School dropouts or pushouts? Overcoming barriers for the right to education. CREATE Research Monograph No. 40, July 2010. National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA).

[26]. Rima, B. M. D., 2008, Causes of peer pressure. ww.well.sphere.co/wellpage/causes of peer pressure.

[27]. Sichombe, B., Nambira,G., Tjipueja, G and Kapenda, L., 2011, Evaluation of promotion policy requirements in Namibian schools. NIED, Okahanja.

[28]. UNESCO, 2015, School drop-out and out of school children in Namibia: A national review 2015. (Abriged version). UNICEF, Windhoek.

[29]. UNESCO, 2015, School drop-out and out of schoolchildren in Namibia. A national review. UNICEF: Windhoek.

[30]. Wolff, J. M., 2012, Adolescent decision making and risk behavior: A neurobiological approach. Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research, Department of Psychology (41). http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychdiss/