Curricula in Teacher Education for Diversity in the University of Namibia

Abstract

Namibia’s classroom compositions are diverse. Its policies on diversity reflect international practices of achieving Education for All. It advocates for teacher education that is responsive to the country’s needs. What is unknown is what a socio-cultural curriculum means in Namibian teacher education. This article focuses on the nature of the UNAM’s B.Ed. curriculum and how students learn its contents. I argue that teacher education for diversity should go beyond traditional teacher education programmes. Its curricula should adopt a socio-cultural view. Coursework and teaching practice should reflect the needs of learners and society. Data collection consisted of documents, and interviews. Content analysis was used. Findings revealed that teaching practice lacked dedication in regard to diversity teaching. Consequently, the B.Ed. Programme partially equipped students with competencies to teach diverse learners because coursework alone cannot suffice. The study contributes to knowledge of what a socio-cultural curriculum means in Namibian teacher education.

Keywords

• namibian teacher education for diversity
• curriculum
• policies
• practices.