Sustainable Pastoralism Development

TVET and University Education Access in Pastoral Areas

S.S. China

Pastoralism

What is Pastoralism?Significant production system in the world’s

dryland ecosystems Over 20m people in Sub-Saharan AfricaArid Areas – isolated, remote, under-

developedEnvironmentally destructive and economically

unsustainable

Challenges to Pastoralism

Drought, disease epidemics, conflict and famine

Marginalization - geographically, economically and politically

Poverty and vulnerability to hazardsIn appropriate policies and systemic barriers

to the integration

Can Pastoralism Work?

Pastoralism is a viable production system

Enabling policy incentives and

investments

It can protect the land resources from

degradation

The Problem

Consistent efforts have been made to address issues of access, equity, quality and relevance of education.

Free primary education, fees waiver, curriculum reviews (relevance, overload), budget, etc.

Despite all these efforts, the education sector is still beset with challenges.

Indicators of Educational Marginalization

• Low completion rates• Low teacher to pupils ratios• Lower performance in national examinations• Low secondary to university transmission

rates• Very few university campuses

Current Interventions

Mobile SchoolsLow cost boarding schoolsSchool feeding programmesOpen and Distance Learning programme

e.g. Kenyatta University Marsabit Open Learning Centre under (KU, KENET,

HELB)

BARRIERS TO UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

Poverty levels Low levels of primary and secondary school

participation Inadequate education infrastructures Higher education access and admission

policies Cultural–attitudes, values

Affirmative Strategies to Increase University Education

Pre-university entry programmes Lower cut-off point in admission Financial support: bursaries, loans Pedagogical processes Institutional commitment Mentoring Aspiration – personal commitment

Expected Outcomes

Increased number of students from ASAL areas accessing public universities

Professional skills Positive values Increased completion and success rates High transition rates to labour markets

END – THANK YOU