Description of Peace Corps Volunteer Service
Name: Gregory J. Vogl
Country: Namibia
Training
Greg began a nine-week training program on November 12, 1994 for his
assignment as a secondary school teacher in Namibia. The program consisted of
the following areas of concentration:
- Technical
- This course is designed to introduce the candidates to the system of
education in Namibia from policy to practice, with an emphasis on the
subject-specific syllabus to be used.
- Area Studies
- This course is designed to familiarize the candidates with the political,
cultural, geographical and historical make-up of Namibia.
- Health/Medical
- This aspect of the training program educates the candidate about
preventative medicine and personal health care and safety in a developing
country.
- Language
- Because of the linguistic diversity in Namibia, this course is designed,
not to teach a single language, but to equip the candidate with the skills to
learn the language found at their site.
In addition to these courses, various informal seminars were conducted,
including sessions of coping with stress and harassment, acquiring
subsistent-living skills, and establishing secondary projects.
Having successfully completed the training program, Greg was sworn in on
January 13, 1995 as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Primary Duties
Greg was assigned to teach at Ponhofi Senior Secondary School in the village
of Ohangwena in the Ondangwa East region of Namibia. Ponhofi Senior Secondary
School is the only senior secondary school in the Ohangwena circuit and has
about 500 students in 15 classes in grades 11 and 12. He reported directly to
the principal of the school and was responsible for teaching the following
courses:
| Dates |
Subjects |
Grades |
Number of Students |
Hours/Week |
| 01-1995 to 12-1995 |
physics, chemistry |
11, 12 |
200 |
22 |
| 01-1996 to 12-1996 |
physics |
11, 12 |
250 |
24 |
| 01-1997 to 12-1997 |
physics, computer studies |
11, 12 |
250 |
26 |
In addition to his teaching duties, he was the register teacher for class 11C
in 1995 and 12C in 1996. His responsibilities in this capacity included:
- taking daily attendance
- mediating conflicts between students and problems between the class and
other teachers
- disseminating information from the administration
- compiling all the marks for each student in each subject for report cards
Additional Duties
Computer Administration
In 1995 the school decided to build a student computer laboratory. Greg wrote
a proposal to a foreign donor to justify the funding of the lab and helped to
design and equip the lab, which was completed in April 1997. He chose, ordered,
configured and maintained the school's computer equipment, which includes a
network of 20 student computers and eight staff computers, peripherals, and
software.
Computer Training
- organized computer literacy classes of one hour per week for every student
in the school
- taught three of the 14 classes in addition to computer studies
- organized supervision of the lab during weekends so interested students
could have extra practice
- gave computer demonstrations of many school-related subjects to groups of
students
- in training sessions and informally, assisted several teachers and staff
members in the use and maintenance of computers
- produced training materials and documented computer use and maintenance
procedures
Use of Information Technology in Education
- wrote educational computer programs as teaching aids for physics,
chemistry, mathematics, and Oshikwanyama, the local language
- designed a World Wide Web site to make information about the school more
accessible on the local network
- used computers to write homework assignments, laboratory experiments,
examinations, letters, and documents needing advanced formatting, editing and
proofreading for teachers and staff at their request
Extra-Curricular Science Activities
- organized supplementary Thursday afternoon classes for the advanced
physics students
- helped organize extra-curricular activities for students interested in
science, such as quiz, problem solving, essay, drawing and debate competitions
- attended six physical science workshops and one computer
studies workshop, organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture
- helped supervise a class field trip to a secondary school in Windhoek, the
capital city
School Resource Development
- helped the science department order equipment and supplies for the new
science laboratory
- solicited book donations from several different
international book donors and secured over 300 books for the new school library
- wrote a proposal that solicited a donation of money for the construction
of a school basketball court, which was completed in November, 1997
Completion of Service
Greg successfully concluded his Peace Corps Volunteer service on December 15,
1997.
Pursuant to section 5 (f) of the Peace Corps Act. 22 U.S.C. & 2504 (f), as
amended any former Volunteer employed by the United States Government following
his/her Peace Corps Volunteer service is entitled to have any period of
satisfactory Peace Corps service credited for purposes of retirement, seniority,
reduction in force, leave and other privileges based on length of Government
Service.
This is to certify in accordance with Executive Order No. 111003 of April 10,
1963, that Mr. Gregory J. Vogl served satisfactorily as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His
service ended on December 15, 1997. He is therefore eligible to be appointed as
career-conditional employee in the competitive civil service on a
non-competitive basis. The benefit under the Executive Order entitlement extends
for a period of one year, except that the employing agency may extend the period
for up to three years for a former Volunteer who enters military service,
pursues studies at a recognized institution of higher learning or engages in
other activities which in the view of the appointed authority warrants extension
of the period.
Colden Murchinson
Peace Corps Country Director/Namibia
16 December 1997