ADDIS ABABA- The Minister of Education said that it has revised the National Pastoral Education Strategy to expand Alternative Basic Educations (ABE) in pastoral areas.
Special Support Senior Expert at the Ministry Fekadu Negash told The Ethiopian Herald the newly revised strategy was prepared by taking the livelihood strategy of pastoral communities. “The strategy aims to create conducive education environment that is in agreement with the actual livelihood of pastoralists,” he said.
Indicating that previously pastoralists’ children had limited opportunity for pursuing their education beyond fourth grade, Fekadu said that the new strategy will enable them to at least attend grade six. Up till now, primary education up to grade four has been widely delivered in pastoral parts of Oromia, Gambela, Somali, Afar and SNNP states.
He further said that the revised strategy is appropriate to enable pastoral communities access quality education. It also opens the most preferred ways for them to attend education. “The flexible nature of the new education system enables children to attend education by far better than normal school circumstances,” Fekadu stated.
The Ministry has been making preparation to put the revised strategy in place and the budget has been allocated for its implementation. The strategy is expected to be implemented once the House of People’s Representative endorses it. Improving access to education to pastoralists means covering third of the overall education demand of the country. Geographically, this would also mean 60 percent of the country has access to education.
The Ethiopian Herald, January 3/2019
BY MULATU BELACHEW
