Pastoralist Education in Dertu: Challenges, Milestones, Lessons Learnt and Way Forward By Ahmed M. Mohamed, Abdi S. Mohamed, Maurice W. Barasa and Nikki Spicer March 2009 Supported by the Government of Japan

Dertu: 100 km north of Garissa (Fig. 1) Dertu is close to Dadaab refugee camp that accommodates 250,000 refugees Livelihood the pastoral Kenyan Somalis is based mainly on livestock – camel, sheep, goats and cattle Estimated population of 6,000 Area: 750 km 2 Soil: sandy, sandy clay Transport: mainly camels and donkeys Energy: mainly firewood There is one dispensary, livestock market, a borehole, many silting water pans, a primary school & a mobile school BACKGROUND INFORMATION Fig. 1 Map of project area Dertu MVP

ORIGINAL CHALLENGES Widespread (over 90%) illiteracy & inadequate knowledge on importance of education Western-style education not priority. Children rear livestock, a risky venture due impact of climate change Low school enrollment (ages 5-18) – - 13% enrollment (376 of estimated 3,000) compared to 18% in North East Kenya (SID 2004) High school dropout rates 18-20% especially girl child Poverty – over 80% of Dertu residents received food aid

Pastoral lifestyle – means shift by pastoralists and children to far pastures in very dry seasons away from school for long period, at times 3-4 months Long distance to school – one primary school in cluster Lack of boarding facilities (dormitories, dining hall) Inadequate number of teachers Inadequate classroom/offices & dilapidated classrooms Collapse of school water and sanitation systems Roaming livestock and wildlife interrupting on-going class lessons Inadequate resources CONT. OF ORIGINAL CHALLENGES Collapsed school pit latrine

MILESTONES Dertu Mobile School Enrolment Dertu Primary School (Sedentary) Enrolment Increased school enrollment : 374 (2006) to 921(2008) (Fig. 2) inclusive of the mobile school. Monthly sensitization during health outreach campaigns and launch of the mobile school has contributed to the increase Reduced dropout : Unlike 2006 when 70 children dropped out of school, only eight pupils dropped out in 2007/8 Fig. 2 Enrolment in Dertu

MILESTONES Mobile School Teacher - pupil ratio is 1:273. The teacher also teaches a semi-permanent cluster with 119 children with support of another teacher employed by local member of parliament. Girls form 36% of the children Project provided teacher with bicycle, camel, D-light, teaching materials, metallic box for storage, mobile phone & airtime of US $25/month ECD, Standards 1 & 2, Adult Education Mobile teacher, his camel & phone A mobile class under temporary shelter A mobile adult class

MILESTONES Support to school feeding program Water and Sanitation Dug pit two latrines Classroom Rehabilitation School fencing Support to feeding program Fenced school compound & fixed metallic gates

MILESTONES Empower girl child, teachers and mothers in the use of sanitary pads Trained/facilitated teachers & School Management Committee in management of schools, community mobilization, mobile school, use of internet & computer, and HIV/AIDS Training girls in use of pads Giving sanitary towels to head teacher

Support school with learning and games materials Solar electrified four classes (5,6,7 & 8) to promote night learning and reduce impact of understaffing Mobilized partners including Government and obtained three more teachers in two years School books and playing balls Dertu primary school football team MILESTONES

Support school in mobile network and internet since 8 th May 2008 Two Sony Ericsson phones to the head teacher and mobile teacher, respectively. Both are topped up by US $25 per month The school has internet service and on monthly basis topped up by Zain as above Because of network coverage pupils can easily communicate with their pastoral parents

MILESTONES Boys dormitory (constructed by MVP) Girls dormitory (constructed UNICEF upon MVP request) Constructed two dormitories (for girls & boys) with hundred bed capacity. 100 boys & girls already using the facilities 100 LLITN bed nets provided for pupils sleeping in dormitories Restocked the school with 40 goats and sheep for income generation – 30 goats from project and 10 sheep and goats (shoats) from parents. School management committee (SMC) under the supervision of the head teacher are responsible for the animals Education Facilitator – MVP Dertu handing over 40 shoats to chairman SMC

LESSONS LEARNT AND WAY FORWARD Partnerships with all stakeholders Female teachers promote girls enrollment and boosts parents’ confidence to have girls in boarding Pastoralists are more than willing to take their children to school Promote motivation and morale for mobile teachers - diversify transport and communication Mobile school calendar cannot follow the conventional calendar Mobile network is the heart of education in pastoral areas. Its availability is paramount