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Mission
The National
Institute for Educational Development (NIED) is a national resource
for mobilizing both human and physical resources in improving the quality
and relevance of education through innovative curriculum and materials
development, and research in education and training, and by linking the
Ministry of Education to the local community and Namibia to the
international community in these fields.
NIED
was established in 1990 as a Directorate within the Ministry of Education
with the continuous task of ensuring that education in Namibia is
developed and improved in accordance with the latest developments in
education and the needs of the people of Namibia.
NIED
is responsible for evaluating, designing and developing curricula for the
education system, introducing effective approaches to teaching and
learning, coordinating the development of instructional materials,
educational research, preparing and coordinating an effective system of
pre-service and in-service teacher education, and providing training in
educational management.
INSTITUTIONAL
INFORMATION
Curriculum Research and Development
The division for
Curriculum Research and Development is responsible for developing the
curriculum and the assessment system, and new syllabuses for individual
subjects. New subjects emerge to meet new needs, and existing subjects
must be adapted to new circumstances, new knowledge and new approaches.
Languages
Namibia is a country
rich in languages but their development has been unequal. The languages
subdivisions will ensure that syllabuses and teaching materials are
available for all languages and relevant to the needs of the learners.
The introduction of English as the medium of instruction for Grades 4 to
12 requires new approaches and materials to prepare the teachers and
learners for the new medium.
Professional, Research and Resource
Development
This division is
responsible for two other major areas of education: improving the
knowledge and skills of the teaching profession and educational managers,
and educational research. A resource centre will be administered by this
division. It will be a resource for NIED officials, regional officers, and
public.
Pre-service teacher education
The development of
pre-service teacher education is done in cooperation with the colleges of
education and the university. NIED initiates the development of new
curricula, brings in resource persons to support reforms, and ensures
input and feedback from the school system.
In-service teacher education
The new curricula for
pre-service teacher education also apply to the in-service training of
teachers. This division is establishing, and will give guidance to,
teachers’ resource centres at regional, district and local levels. These
resource centres will give in-service training and support to teachers in
the everyday school situation.
Research
Research is essential to the development of education, and research
specialists are attached to this division. They investigate various
aspects of the process of educational development and innovation, so that
curricula, materials, teaching and management are continually improved.
How Does NIED Work?
NIED has an active
involvement in education in the country through networks and partnerships.
Some of these are with teachers, schools, resource centre, environmental
education centres, other parts of the Ministry of Education and the
Regional Offices. NIED also links up with top national resources in
education such as the colleges of education, the university and the
polytechnic. Other linkages include ministries, non-governmental
organizations, unions, employers, and more. NIED is also part of several
international networks for educational research and development.
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National Networks
One of the most
important networks is the system of curriculum panels for school subjects.
These panels are nationally representative, and consist of teachers from
schools and colleges, the university, advisory teachers, and others.
Several important networks link up the division for Professional and
Resource Development with the colleges of education, and with the
teachers’ resource centres and the Regional Offices, for in-service
teacher education.
Wide Participation
When innovations are
planned and implemented, representative working groups are set up, and
draft documents are sent out for discussion. It is a fundamental working
principle of NIED, that changes are made on the basis of wide
participation and involvement. The process of change must be democratic.
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