Investing in future educators

Mariselle Stofberg In a quest to further uplift the standard of education in Namibia, the STADIO Faculty of Education (formerly known as Embury) will work to equip students to become fully qualified educators. As of 2021, students will be able to complete various education qualifications with a blended learning approach, which will include online learning and contact classes that will be offered at Windhoek Gymnasium.“We investigated a number of institutions that could provide us with the quality and the content of a good education degree that we wish to present to the country. STADIO was one of the institutions we looked at and we believe that they will enable us to provide learners with a good quality degree and offer them a more practical approach to teaching,” says Colette Rieckert, the CEO of the Namibia STADIO Faculty of Education.“The dream and the planning in the training facility is for students to be placed at some of the private schools for the practical aspect of their education. Of course, we will also involve government schools and teachers that we know will be committed and determined to help groom our future teachers. The students will then gain hands-on experience on teaching and interactions with students,” Rieckert further adds. “In Namibia there is a great need for improved teacher education. A large number of students leave Namibia to qualify as teachers in South Africa. This results in a loss of GDP for Namibia and, unfortunately, these teachers often do not return to our country, resulting in a loss of skilled manpower, which is desperately needed in Namibia’s education system,” Rieckert adds. The STADIO Faculty of Education is a registered and accredited provider of education qualifications and professional development courses in South Africa. Currently 2 200 contact learning and 2 000 distance learning students are enrolled for STADIO Faculty of Education qualifications in South Africa. The faculty is one of five in the larger STADIO higher education institution that has 33 000 students registered in South Africa.Investing in the quality of educationThe faculty will team up with Rieckert, a well-known education enthusiast, to retain top educational talent for the teaching profession, while also contributing towards raising the overall standard of education, thanks to improved approaches and practices. “A school is only as good as the teacher in the class, and by providing quality teacher education and short courses, STADIO believes it will be able to uplift the local education system, or at least contribute to it,” Rieckert adds. Starting in 2021, the STADIO Faculty of Education will offer a higher certificate in pre-school education (1 year), a diploma in grade R (3 years), bachelor in foundation phase teaching, bachelor of education honours degree in inclusive education and a post graduate certificate in education (PGCE[YDP1] ).It is anticipated that the Bachelor of Education in intermediate phase teaching will be offered from 2022.Under the leadership of Rieckert, Windhoek Gymnasium and the Association of Private Schools in Namibia (APSN) will serve as a platform to provide solid student support and practical experience by offering students access to their fully resourced facilities, mentors and tutors. STADIO Faculty of Education’s Postgraduate Certificate in Education provides an opportunity for those with an undergraduate degree or an approved diploma to become fully qualified teachers. The plan is also to present Continuing Professional Teacher Development (CPTD) short courses to already-established teachers in Namibia.Hybrid learning experienceThe faculty’s qualifications include different modes of learning incorporated into a ‘flexible hybrid learning experience’. “This hybrid model provides a sense of agency to students, allowing them to select, on a weekly basis, the learning mode that suits their situation best. This includes, for example, live-streamed lectures with support sessions at Windhoek Gymnasium, which will serve as the STADIO learning centre in Namibia. Other modes of learning include live webinars on students’ laptops or smartphones as well as recorded material viewable on YouTube,” Rieckert adds. After all applications have been received, a personal interview will also be conducted with applicants to ensure they are truly motivated and passionate about education. “We need to make sure that people who are optimistic and positive about teaching and the field of education are the ones who pursue a degree or diploma in this field. Choosing education as a career should not be your back up, or chosen because one believes it offers a comfortable life. You need to be passionate about making a difference in the lives of our learners and be committed to the role of a teacher,” Rieckert adds. For further information, contact Helene Viljoen at HeleneV@embury.ac.za. [YDP1]Kyk net na hoofletters. Word die kwalifikasies met hoof- of klein letters geskryf?

Investing in future educators

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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Investing in future educators

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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