Assessing the prevalence of energy poverty and the impact thereof on educational well-being of high school students in Windhoek, Namibia

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorMohlakoana, Nthabisengen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSeibes, Winniefred Angelen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Centre for Sustainability Transition. en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-15T13:38:39Z
dc.date.accessioned2023-11-16T08:49:31Z
dc.date.available2023-02-15T13:38:39Z
dc.date.available2023-11-16T08:49:31Z
dc.date.issued2023-03
dc.descriptionThesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH SUMMARY: There are numerous measures of energy poverty. However, binary, and unidimensional measures provide minimal insight on the extent of energy poverty experienced by households who do have access to electricity or energy supply at varying degrees. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate energy poverty amongst high school students in Windhoek, Namibia, and its impact on their educational well-being. By employing a Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) along with other binary measures of energy poverty, such as the 10% threshold on household income and energy expenditure, the study assesses household electricity connections or the lack thereof; and reliance on biomass by households. Application of the multi-tier framework to this study will produce results that will provide school authorities and policy-makers with insight on the level of energy poverty experienced by students in relation to the various attributes of household energy supply such as its capacity, reliability, availability, quality, affordability, legality, and safety. Additionally, the study provides information on the impact of energy poverty on students’ academic attainment, and performance in English, Mathematics and Science. The study found that over 80% of participating households have electricity connections. In addition, approximately 65.4% of participating households spend more than 10% of their monthly income to acquire energy sources. And households spend an average of 18.2% of their monthly income to acquire energy sources. This study employed the Multi-Tier Framework to analyse energy poverty levels based on the households’ electricity access. As per the Multi-Tier Framework approach, the Weighted-Index of Access (WIA) compiles individual household electricity access levels into a single value that represents the overall access level for households in a particular region. Thus, the Weighted-Index of Access for households participating in this study was determined to be at Tier 3. At an access level of Tier 3, households experience an inconsistent energy supply, with constrained capacity. Moreover, the energy sources used for cooking are deemed unsafe and unhealthy. In relation to educational wellbeing, the study observed a trend of high levels of student absenteeism amongst low-income households. The study thus recommends an extension of electricity subsidies to all poor households. The study also recommends increased consumer education on climate change and the impacts of the use of unclean fuels on human health and the environment. Finally, the study proposes that schools implement early-detection and intervention systems for students with high absenteeism. Opportunities for further research exists to establish households’ electricity connection status, and to identify causes for the lack thereof. Research may also be conducted to identify households’ limitations in accessing various energy sources.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is talle maatstawwe van energie-armoede. Binere en eendimensionele maatstawwe bied egter min insig oor die omvang van die ervaring van energie-armoede deur huishoudings wat wel tot ’n sekere mate toegang tot elektrisiteit of energievoorsiening het. Hierdie verhandeling evalueer energie-armoede onder hoerskoolleerlinge in Windhoek, Namibie; en die impak daarvan op hul opvoedkundige welstand. Dit word gedoen deur ’n veelvlakkige raamwerk (in Engels, MTF) tesame met ander binere maatstawwe van energie-armoede, onder meer die 10%-drempel op huishoudelike inkomste en energiebesteding; die evaluering van huishoudelike elektrisiteitsverbindings of die gebrek daaraan; asook die evaluering van huishoudings se afhanklikheid van biomassa. Die toepassing van die veelvlakkige raamwerk op hierdie studie bied resultate wat skoolowerhede en beleidmakers insig gee in die vlak van energie-armoede wat studente ervaar in verhouding tot die verskillende kenmerke van huishoudelike energievoorsiening, onder meer kapasiteit, die betroubaarheid, beskikbaarheid, gehalte, bekostigbaarheid, wettigheid en veiligheid daarvan. Daarbenewens verskaf die studie inligting oor die impak van energie-armoede op studente se akademiese prestasie, en hul prestasie in Engels, Wiskunde en Wetenskap. Die studie het bevind dat meer as 80% van die deelnemende huishoudings elektrisiteitsverbindings het. Verder bestee ongeveer 65.4% van die deelnemende huishoudings meer as 10% van hul maandelikse inkomste aan die aankoop van energiebronne. Huishoudings bestee gemiddeld 18.2% van hul maandelikse inkomste om energiebronne te bekom. Hierdie studie gebruik die veelvlakkige raamwerk om energie-armoedevlakke te ontleed op grond van huishoudings se toegang tot elektrisiteit. Volgens die veelvlakkigeraamwerk-benadering kombineer die Geweegde Toegangsindeks (in Engels, WIA) individuele huishoudelike elektrisiteitstoegangsvlakke in ’n enkele waarde wat die algehele toegangsvlak vir huishoudings in ’n spesifieke streek verteenwoordig. Die Geweegde Toegangsindeks vir huishoudings wat aan hierdie studie deelgeneem het, is gevolglik vasgestel op vlak 3. Op ’n toegangsvlak van vlak 3 ervaar huishoudings ’n inkonsekwente energietoevoer, met beperkte kapasiteit. Daarbenewens word die energiebronne wat vir kook gebruik word, as onveilig en ongesond beskou. Met betrekking tot opvoedkundige welstand het die studie ’n neiging tot hoe vlakke van studente-afwesigheid onder laeinkomste-huishoudings waargeneem. Die studie beveel gevolglik aan dat die betaling van elektrisiteitsubsidies na alle behoeftige huishoudings uitgebrei word. Die studie beveel ook verhoogde verbruikersopvoeding oor klimaatsverandering en die impak van die gebruik van skadelike brandstowwe op menslike gesondheid en die omgewing aan. Die studie stel voor dat skole vroee opsporing- en intervensiestelsels vir studente met hoe afwesigheid implementeer. Geleenthede vir verdere navorsing bestaan om huishoudings se elektrisiteitsverbindings te bepaal en om oorsake vir die gebrek daaraan te identifiseer. Verder kan navorsing onderneem word om te bepaal watter beperkings huishoudings ervaar sover dit toegang tot verskeie energiebronne betref.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMasters
dc.format.extentix, 161 pages : illustrations, includes annexures
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128700
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subject.lcshEnergy policy -- Economic aspects -- Windhoek (Namibia)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshPoor -- Energy assistance -- Windhoek (Namibia)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSustainable development -- Windhoek (Namibia)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshPower resources -- Windhoek (Namibia)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshEnergy policy -- Windhoek (Namibia)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshRenewable energy sources -- Windhoek (Namibia)en_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.titleAssessing the prevalence of energy poverty and the impact thereof on educational well-being of high school students in Windhoek, Namibiaen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
seibes_assessing_2023.pdf
Size:
3.97 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters Degrees (The Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST))