Cultural practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriages and moranism have contributed to the high illiteracy levels among pastoralist communities.
The high levels of illiteracy are also due to the nomadic lifestyles of pastoral communities.
Daniel Kurau is the AMREF Health Africa Program Manager. He says that a large percentage of the pastoral community’s adult population are illiterate because of their lifestyles.
“We still have a huge number of uneducated adults in the society. Pastoral communities mainly in Arid and Semi-Arid areas are mostly disadvantaged due to cultural practices and their nomadic lifestyle,” said Karau.
Karau, speaking in Maili Tisa Central, Kajiado Central, during an event marking the International Literacy Day, noted the need for education in the community, adding that a lack of basic literacy prevents people from accessing decent jobs and full participation within their communities.
On his part, Kajiado County Director for Adult and Continuing Education Mercy Njiriri reiterated Karau’s sentiments adding that the cultural practices and beliefs are deeply rooted in the society and this poses as a hindrance in promoting education.
Njiriri emphasized that the only way one could empower themselves economically and socially was through education and urged uneducated residents to enroll for Adult and Continuing education classes.
The officer urged the residents to abandon outdated practices like FGM and early marriages to embrace change and not be left behind in terms education and development.
Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, who attended the event, pointed out that many Maasai elders didn’t have the opportunity to pursue education in their formative years.
“As the Maa community, one of our greatest challenge has been education. We were left behind because we didn’t embrace western education and stayed true to our culture. We now have a chance to rectify this through enrolling for Adult and Continuing education so as to gain basic literacy,” said the Governor.
He said adult education would help promote literacy among the older generation and urged them to enroll for classes so as to fight illiteracy and pledged his government’s support towards the adult education program.
More than 100 adult learners from different continuing and adult education facilities in the area graduated during the event and were presented with certificates. Samuel Malei (a father of six who is 40 years old) said that he never had the opportunity to attend school as a child, as his parents didn’t understand the importance of education.
Malei stated that he was motivated by the opportunity to return to school because he wanted to learn how to read and write in order to help his children with homework and to be able to read the Bible for himself. Malei acknowledged that it was not easy to learn as an adult, as he had the challenge of juggling between his classes and caring for his family. But his determination helped him succeed.
“I decided to enroll for adult classes so that I can know how to read and write. It has not been an easy journey but I am happy I did it and I hope to continue up to the university level,” said Malei.
Kilena Ndegema (a Namanga resident) was another graduate who said she had to drop out in Standard 7 because her parents had married her.
“I dropped out of school in standard 7 after my parents married me off. I am now a mother with two children in high school but this did not stop my hunger for education, that’s why I decided to go back to school,” she said.
Ndegema explained that her desire to learn led her to enroll for the adult education program twenty year later. She wanted to obtain a Primary Education Certificate. Ndegema said that she would love to enroll in secondary education, but that it was difficult because there were not enough adult secondary schools available in her area.
The mother of four demanded that education stakeholders increase the number of adult education classes and train teachers because there are many uninformed adults who would love to return to school.
“There are very few adult education classes here in Kajiado despite the high number of illiterate adults who would wish to go back to school to complete their education. We only have one class in Mail Tisa and a volunteer teacher if more classes are built and teachers employed then it will boost the literacy levels,” she said.
The International Literacy Day, which is celebrated every September 8, aims to remind society about the importance of literacy as a matter human dignity and rights.
This year’s theme ‘Transforming literacy learning spaces’ highlights the need for steps and efforts to help create literate societies and provides an opportunity for stakeholders to highlight improvements in world literacy rates reflecting on challenges faced.
By Rop Janet
Source: kenyanews
