Providing non-formal education to the semi-nomadic Bahima and Karimojong pastoralists in Uganda

Abstract

This study examines the current pastoralists' education situation in Uganda in the context of the education policy established, and non-formal education interventions being conducted among the Bahima and Karimojong pastroralists by both Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations, as an attempt to address the problems and issues of illiteracy and pastoral development. It is evident that education for pastoralists in Uganda creates a social consciousness with values, norms, knowledge and skills, which have a complex and dynamic relationship among the pastoralists. The problems of investigation in this research focus on information available on the functioning of pastoralism for effective provision of non-formal education programmes to the Bahima and Karimojong pastoralists; and how effectively the providers of non-formal education programmes can integrate the nomadic livelihood in the provision of non-formal education The literature review has focused on the Bahima and Karimojong pastoralists, but attempts have also been made to draw relevant lessons from other nomadic groups like Gypsies, travellers, and occupational travellers. The review has been intended to sharpen specific aspects related to pastoral and national education practices that can enable appropriate and strategic provision and implementation of non-formal education programmes to occur among the Bahima and Karimojong pastoralists in their pastoral context. Qualitative research methods used in the study were fundamentally relevant and suited for locating the meaning that semi-nomadic Bahima and Karimojong pastoralists placed on events, processes and structures of their lives, their perceptions, assumptions, prejudgments, presumptions, and for connecting these meanings to the social world around them. Presentation and analysis of data is divided into three sections including a recast of the items in the interview schedules, a summary of the research findings presented on a conceptually clustered Matrix Sheet, and a presentation of the data analysis resulting form the data displayed on the Matrix Sheet. Recommendations of the study have been clustered under the following three thematic categories: · Relevance of non-formal education programmes to the Bahima and Karimojong pastoraslist, · Factors for implementation of non-formal education programmes, and · Strategies for implementation and sustenance of non-formal education programmes among the Bahima and Karimojong pastoralists.