PROVISION OF PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR PASTORALIST CHILDREN IN NYANGATOM WOREDA: CHALLENGES AND ALTERNATIVES

Abstract

Provision of quality and equitable primary education is crucial to all societies, including the disadvantaged people living in developing countries. Such education fills not only socioeconomic but also political gaps, which, in turn, fosters local, regional and national development and integrity. The objectives of the study was to identify the major school related factors, socio-cultural and socio-economic factors that hinder participation and suggest possible strategies that need to address the educational marginalization of pastoral children in Nyangatom Woreda. To achieve this, a descriptive research was used. The study was based on data gathered from three schools; Kangaten, Kibish and Shunkura. The sources of data for the study were 120 students, 9 teachers, 3 supervisors, 2 education officers and 18 pastoral community representatives. Probability and non probability sampling techniques were employed. The methods used for data collection were questionnaires, interview, FGD and document review. The data obtained from questionnaires were analyzed using statistical tools like frequency, percentage, mean and one way ANOVA. The quantitative data was organized and feed in to SPSS 20.0 version software and qualitative data were analyzed by narration. The finding of this study revealed that, primary education participation of pastoralist children was characterized by very low enrollment, male-biased, high dropout rate and cultural biased factors. This study found that most of the pastoralist communities were uneducated and illiterate. Among the factors found to be causes for low school participation of pastoralist children were socio-cultural, socioeconomic and school related factors. This study also explored the educational alternatives to promote primary education for pastoralist children. In conclusion, socio-cultural, socioeconomic and school related factors affect the primary education participation of pastoralist children. In order to alleviate these problems, the concerned governmental and NGOs should work hard to create awareness about the importance of education for pastoralist children to eliminate the cultural influences against children education through different mechanisms such as train the communities, meeting, workshops, advice with their elders and educated pastoralists and giving prize to those who send their children to school.