Towards an Efficient and Effective Implementation of the New Curriculum in Namibian Schools

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore measures that could best serve as prerequisites for the efficient and effective implementation of the new curriculum in Namibian schools. The study used a qualitative research methodology, which employed a case study design. Semi structured interview and open-ended questionnaire were used to obtain data from the participants and respondents. The sample was made up of teachers and schools principals who were purposively sampled because of their typicality to the subject of research. The collected data was analysed using thematic analysis method. Key findings reveal that efficient and effective implementation of the new curriculum could best be achieved through the provision of adequate resources to schools before the curriculum was rolled out. Adequate resources were regarded as a measure of school readiness in implementing the new curriculum. Support programmes were also essential to equip teachers with necessary skills for them to meet the expectations of the new curriculum and enable them to discharge their duties effectively. The study also revealed that any implementation of the new curriculum should be informed by promising evidence of piloting, suggesting that a pilot study was needed to render the implementation of the curriculum effective. The study concluded that the implementation of the new curriculum in slowly gaining momentum due to various critical measures that needed to be considered before it was implemented. Thus, it is recommended that the measures as discussed in this article could still be considered and applied for improved operational efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of the new curriculum in Namibian schools.