Diploma in Education (Pre and Junior Primary)

PURPOSE OF QUALIFICATION

This qualification’s main purpose is to develop professionally qualified teachers who will include both practical and theoretical components; with the goal of improving the quality of the teaching and learning environment; encouraging research and development; and enhancing professional development for the overall improvement of early childhood education; and the appropriate pedagogical approaches to ensure enhanced learning outcomes in a variety of circumstances. Furthermore, this qualification aims to provide early childhood educators with an in-depth understanding of the subject matter, sound professional teaching skills, including multi-grade teaching skills, as well as skills for working with children age five (5) through nine (9) years, Grade 0 through Grade 3 and the ability to adapt to Namibia’s ever-changing early childhood educational needs. Furthermore, an emphasis is placed on the integration of appropriate technology in the school curriculum at this level. It will give young, aspiring early childhood educators as well as experienced practitioner’s access to IUM studies in early childhood education.

This qualification will help the country to produce early childhood educators who are competent and innovative for a lasting impact on the learners’ lives. The goal of this qualification will improve the quality of classroom teaching, learning, and management, to increase the availability and access to quality education at the early childhood education level, and to reduce children’s vulnerability to failure and dropout at later stages of education. As a result, students who complete this qualification will be well versed in not only varied but also flexible teaching strategies within well-structured sequences of fun lessons with stories, songs, and movement. Upon graduation, the students will be prepared for pre and junior primary school class teaching and learning as well as management.

The study period for the qualification is a minimum of 3 years and   maximum of 5 years both for full-time and part-time mode. The study period comprises of two semesters per academic year, where semester 1 runs from January to June and semester 2 runs from July to December.

ADMISSION/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To be admitted to this qualification, an applicant must meet the following admission requirements:

• Holders of a grade 12/NSSCO/NSSAS with a minimum of 23 points in the best five subjects passed and a minimum of D in English and D in a Namibian language on the IUM’s evaluation scale or equivalent qualification(s), a recognised qualification at NQF (level 6) or equivalent.
• Students may also be admitted through the mature age entry, which requires them to be at least 25 years old or older in the year in which admission is sought and must have at least 2 years’ teaching experience and provide a suitable reference from a recognised public official.
• Furthermore, these students should have passed grade 10. Compliance with these requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the qualification. To determine the candidates’ suitability for the qualification, the faculty of education will administer an interview and/or Aptitude placement test to recruit prospective teachers with appropriate teacher attributes, motivation for teaching, and ethical competencies. Additional requirements include English competency with a minimum of D- symbol in English and a Namibian language competency with a minimum grade of D as a requirement for enrolment in this qualification.

Career Opportunities

This qualification is intended for aspirant early childhood educators school teachers who are willing to take positions in both private and public schools. Upon completing this qualification, students will have a potential of becoming professionally qualified and competent early childhood teachers who will be able to teach across the pre and junior primary phase on all subjects taught at this level.

LIST OF COURSES PER SEMESTER PER YEAR