ANGLO-SKORPION FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN BIG WAY

Skorpion Zinc Mine through the Anglo-Skorpion Foundation has contributed 600-thousand Namibia dollars to a programme to develop school principals in the Karas Region. The Faculty of Education of the University of Johannesburg is actively involved with the development of school principals in Namibia, through the delivery
participants from the Erongoof an ACE-qualification in School Management and Leadership in Namibia. The programme is jointly sponsored by the FNB-Namibia Foundation, the Rössing Foundation, the Pupkewitz Foundation) and administered by the Namibian Personal Development Institute (NPDI). Currently there are 32 principals from the Karas region, 28 region which includes 5 from Kunene and 5 from Oshana enrolled for the programme. The project is a joint initiative with Etsip, the Government’s National Education Improvement programme. A memorandum of agreement is in place, guaranteeing Etsip’s support and the initial phase of this program is 5 years. The success of such an initiative is dependent on the ability of the University to offer a programme of continuous input, output and support, which is being done through the involvement of local strategic partners. The Windhoek College of Education has been harnessed as the strategic associate in Namibia, in order to assist with support, network learning and on-site activity validation. A Research project has also been designed in order to determine the success of the program in Namibia. This research project will focus on the ecology of practice and the role of the principal as key-stone species and mentor for the development of effective education practice in Namibia. NPDI is involved, in association with NMI (Namibian Math Institute), with various training projects for Mathematics teachers. According to the project, experience has showed that one of the biggest challenges that a typical Math teacher in the programmes faces is a principal (management) that do not support the teacher. Therefore the aim is to merge this project with other in-service training programs, such as the Mathematics upgrading program. This degree programme by the University makes it possible for the principal to be involved in a two year course aimed at improved management and leadership. Skorpion has dedicated themselves to support this project for four years, with the possibility to extend it for an additional two years.