Primary Education for the Children of Pastoral Nomads in Borena: Access and Alternatives
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Date
2001-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to examine the current status of school age
children's participation in primary education in the nomadic areas of Borena,
identify the major problems, i.e., school related and out of school factors
(economic, social, cultural and development constraints) and indicate the
alternative strategies that need to be designed by addressing the major issues to
be dealt with by the regional policy makers and educational planners. A
descriptive survey method was employed to gather the necessary data for the
study. Data from the documents was obtained from the annual statistical abstract
of the MOE, OEB and the 1994 Housing and Population Census. Moreover,
questionnaires and structured interviews were administrated to 80 teachers, 516
students and 80 elders. The results of the study showed that school related
factors such as distance from home to school and lack of water in the school
were found to be the common obstacles for increasing access to primary
education. Moreover, weak school-community relationships and absence of
flexible time schedule and calendar were identified as the prominent factors in
hindering students' participation. Furthermore, lack of separate toilet for girls,
and shortage of student textbooks were found to be the other major constraints
for increasing access to primary education.
The results of the study also indicated that sociology-economic factors such as the
need for child's labor by parents, mobility of the people, and lack of
understanding of the value of education by parents were identified as the major
obstacles. On the other hand, cultural factors were found to be the main
hindering factors. Besides absence of development programs designed for the
pastoral nomads such as range land development program and extension andpackage programs were also identified as the major constraints. Moreover,
shortage of marketing services, and shortage of basic services such as education
and health were found to be the main obstacles. Furthermore, sparse settlement
of the people and shortage of road were also identified as the major hindering
problems.
As a result, it is concluded that school related and out of school factors as well as
development constraints are the hindering factors to bring about improved access
to primary education in the pastoral nomadic areas of Borena. On top of this, it is
recommended that the regional state policy makers and planners should give
greater attention to improve the existing situation so that an increase in the
demand for primary education would be improved and an increase in access is
realized.
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Keywords
Pastoral Nomads in Borena