CHILDREN’S ACCESS TO PRIMARY EDUCATION IN DASENECH AND NYANGATOM PASTORALIST COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH OMO: PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS by Alemayehu Debebe Mekonnen April, 2014 A dissertation submitted to College of Education and Behavioural Studies of the Addis Ababa University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Educational Planning and Management Declaration I declare that Children’s access to primary education in Dasenech and Nyangatom pastoralist communities of South Omo: Prospects, challenges and policy implications is my own original work and that all the sources which I have used or quoted have been included and duly acknowledged by means of complete reference. Alemayehu Debebe Mekonnen April 2014 ii Table of Contents Content Page DECLARATION……………………………………………………………................ .ii LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………. vi LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………… vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. xi ABBREVATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................................................. xiii CHAPTER ONE ...................................................................................................................... 1 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background of the Study…………………………………………………. ……………. 1 1.1.1 Overview of modern education in Ethiopia........................................................... 1 1.1.2 A glimpse on current performance of the country’s education system .................... 3 1.1.3 Context of SNNPR and the study area .................................................................. 13 1.2 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................... ……...20 1.3 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 24 1.4 Significance of the Study................................................................................................ 25 1.5 Conceptual Framework.................................................................................................. .27 1.6 Delimitation of the Study ................................................................................................29 1.7 Limitations of the Study ..................................................................................................29 1.8 Definition of Key Terms ..................................................................................... ……..30 1.9 Organization of the Study.............................................................................................. .31 iii CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 33 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ........................................................................... 33 2.1 Education as a Human Right and Tool for Development ............................................. 33 2.2 The Educationally Disadvantaged Groups ................................................................ …38 2.3 Factors that Determine Participation and Persistence in Education ……………….. 45 2.4 Pastoralism and the Legacy of Educational under Representation……………………50 2.5 Consequences of Pastoral Mobility and Conflict on Children’s Schooling ……… 54 2.6 Theoretical Perspectives ………………………………………………………………..57 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................... 62 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 62 3.1 Methodological Approach …………………………………………………………….62 3.2 Research Design ……………………………………………………………………….63 3.3 Research Procedure …………………………………………………..65 3.3.1 Sampling technique and sample population ............................................................ 65 3.3.2 Participants of the study .......................................................................................... 66 3.3.3 Instruments of data collection ................................................................................. 67 3.3.4 Instrument testing............................................................................................ ..... 68 3.3.5 Method of data analysis…………………………………………………………...69 3.4 Ethical Considerations ................................................................................................ 72 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................. 73 DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION .............................................. 73 4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 73 4.2 Characteristics of Respondents .................................................................................... 73 4.3 Factors Limiting Pastoralists Children’s Participation in Primary Education. ............ 76 4.3.1 Supply side determinants………………………………………………………… 76 4.3.1.1 Funding............................................................................................................78 4.3.1.2 Staffing and training .......................................................................................87 4.3.1.3 Equipment ....................................................................................................... 96 4.3.1.4 Legacy............................................................................................................ 98 4.3.2 Demand Side Determinants ..................................................................................104 4.3.2.1 Dispersed settlement pattern ...................................................................... 107 4.3.2.2. Child labour ............................................................................................... 112 iv 4.4 Responsiveness of the Existing Approach to the Pastoralists Context.........................122 4.4.1 Pastoral mobility and the conventional school setup........................................... 123 4.4.1.1 Seasonal mobility routes of the Dasenech community................................ 123 4.4.1.2 Seasonal mobility routes of the Nyangatom community ............................ 124 4.4.2 Conflict of interest as cause for school activity disruption ............... ...................126 4.4.2.1 Recurring conflict with neighbouring pastoralists..................................... 126 4.4.2.2 Apprehension due to large scale investment interventions...................... .. 130 4.5 Ensuring Access to and Retention in Education among Boys and Girls .......................134 4.5.1 Prevalence of gender specific determinants...................................................... 134 4.5.2 Detrimental effect of bride-price ............................ ........................................... 139 4.5.3 Peer pressure as an instrument of deterrence for school going ....................................144 CHAPTER FIVE.............................................................................................................. 147 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER ACTION ....... 147 5.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 147 5.2 Summary of Findings............................................................................................... .149 5.3 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... …… .152 5.4 Implications for further Action ................................................................................. 154 5.4.1 Areas for policy intervention.......................................................................... 155 5.4.2 Areas for practical response............................................................................ 159 5.4.3 Areas for further research undertakings.......................................................... 162 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 164 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................... 179 Appendix A: Questionnaire for Teachers, Principals, Education Experts and Officials ...... 179 Appendix B: Interview Guide for Schoolchildren ................................................................ 183 Appendix C: Community Members FGD Guide .................................................................. 184 Appendix D: Primary School Facilities Observation Checklist ........................................... 185 Appendix E: Major Specifications for Lower Primary School Facility in SNNPR ............. 188 Appendix F: SNNPR Location Map ..................................................................................... 189 Appendix G: Administrative Map of SNNPR ...................................................................... 190 Appendix H: Spatial Distribution of Primary Schools in South Omo .................................. 191 v LIST OF