| dc.description.abstract | This study aimed at investigating factors influencing provision of education for
pastoralists’ children in mobile primary schools in Marsabit North District,
Kenya. Mobile schools provide a critical alternative link to provision of education
services to communities in arid and semi-arid lands in Kenya. Despite efforts to
promote pastoral education by the government and educational stakeholders, over
80% of the school going age in nomadic pastoralists’ areas still do not access the
Free Primary Education introduced in 2003.
Objectives of the study included investigating factors that influence provision of
education for pastoralists’ children in mobile primary schools such as teacher
training, teaching and learning facilities, households’ economic status and child
labour. This study adopted a descriptive survey design to gather data from Yaa
Odhola, Yaa Galbo, Yaa Algara and Yaa Sharbana mobile primary schools.
Sample size included head teachers attached to the four mobile primary schools,
teachers and pupils. Researcher did census on head teachers and teachers since
they were few. For the pupils purposive sampling was used. Sample size consisted
of 56 respondents; 4 head teachers, 4 teachers and 48 pupils. Questionnaires and
Focus Group Discussions were used to collect data. Findings were analysed using
Social Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) and presented in percentages and
frequency tables.
Findings showed that all factors had considerable influence on the phenomenon
under study. On influence of teacher training all teachers strongly agreed that inservice
and pre-service training was important and training teachers for mobile
primary schools should be prioritized. A teacher training institution should be
established, while teacher training should be culturally sensitive. Teaching and
learning facilities did not seem to be major hindrances to provision of mobile
primary education since they were available. However, water was major concern
and policy makers and stakeholders should consider availing it to a greater
measure.House hold’s economic status such as poverty levels andfamily size
indicated significance influenceon provision of education. This implied that
provision of mobile primary school education is a socio-economic issue that
requires integrated approach therefore is relevant.Child labour featured as the
strongest influence on provision of education. Household chores such as fetching
firewood and water, grazing and caring for siblings were cited as negatively
influencing provision of education in mobile primary schools.
To solve these issues concerted efforts between all the education stakeholders
should be encouraged and a long term plan of action put in place. Clean water
should be availed, paid child labour eliminated and issues of planned family sizes
within communities addressed by policy makers. Findings shed light on how mobile schools could offer more opportunities for
school age going children and suggested necessary mitigation steps in planning of
nomadic education. Researchers interested in Education in Emergencies could use
the findings. Pastoralists’ children could benefit from improved provision of
primary school education if the research findings are implemented.
Further research is needed on the role of female teachers and factors influencing
participation of family members in provision of education for pastoralist children
in mobile primary schools. | en |
