Lecturers' Perceptions on the Effectiveness of In-Service Training Programs at Selected Public Sector Organisations in Namibia

Abstract

The training programs, irrespective of their scopes and time frames, aim to enrich the skills, knowledge level and attitude of participants so that they eventually enhance organizational performance. The training institution investigated in this study did not have a training evaluation policy at its inception. Hence, the aim of this paper is to report on the lecturers' views on the effectiveness of in-service training at one of the public sector organizations in Namibia. The study adopted a quantitative approach and a total of 27 (11 males and 16 females) academic staff participated in it. The results indicate that the majority of respondents are of the view that the institution does not conduct training need assessments. They also expressed that the in-service training programs provided by the institution do not empower them to become better teachers. It is thus recommended that the institution provides in-service training programs that specifically improve lecturers' pedagogical skills in this regard.Keywords: lecturers' perceptions, in-service training programs, effectiveness of training, public sector organizations, Namibia ResumenLos programas de formación, independientemente de sus alcances y plazos, tienen por objeto enriquecer las habilidades, el nivel de conocimiento y la actitud de los participantes para que eventualmente mejoren su desempeño profesional. La institución de formación investigada en este estudio no tenía una política de evaluación de formación en su inicio. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este documento es informar sobre las opiniones del profesorado sobre la efectividad de la formación en servicio en una de las organizaciones del sector público de Namibia. El estudio adoptó un enfoque cuantitativo en un total de 27 personas (11 hombres y 16 mujeres) del personal académico participante. Los resultados indican que la mayoría de los encuestados opinan que la institución no realiza evaluaciones sobre las necesidades de formación. También expresaron que los programas de formación que ofrece la institución no les permiten ser mejores profesores. Así pues, se recomienda que la institución proporcione programas de capacitación que mejoren específicamente las habilidades pedagógicas del profesorado en este sentido.Palabras clave: percepción docente, formación continua del profesorado, eficacia de la formación, organizaciones del sector público, Namibia 158 Pieters & Kapenda -Lecturers' perceptions of training programs he training programs, irrespective of their scopes and time frames, aim to enrich the skills, knowledge level and attitude of participants so that they eventually enhance organizational performance. The extent to which this enhancement could be realized is the measure of the effectiveness of any training program (Otero, 1997). The training institution investigated in this study did not have a training evaluation policy and the evaluation of staff performance was based on the following outcomes: successful students' intake and registration, submission of student attendance rec...

An Exploration of the Professional Development Needs of Agricultural Educators within the VET Sector: A Mixed Methods Study

“…will benefit both the educator and the organisation. It will enable educators to identify their true potential and feel valued by the employer but also benefit the organisation as it should lead to a more competent, better motivated and more independent workforce (Elnaga & Imran, 2013;Hanaysha, 2016;Kapenda & Pieters, 2017). Therefore, in conclusion, both formal qualifications and informal peer engagement have a role to play in the development of agricultural educators within the V.E.T.…”

“…Identifying the training needs through assessment is a crucial part of the training process as it provides information on who needs to be trained, the type of training program required and how the results of the training program are to be evaluated. Investment in training and approaching the training process in this manner helps an organisation achieve a more competent, better motivated and more independent workforce (Elnaga & Imran, 2013;Hanaysha, 2016;Kapenda & Pieters, 2017). Finally, staff morale increases, and positive employee attitude evolves where skills development is associated with career progression, recognition and reward thus highlighting the benefits associated with investment in training and C.P.D.…”