URE thusiasm for western ogi, amidst challenges “In most places, the pupils learn under trees. They use their laps as their desks.
state government, he was optimistic of a bright future for nomadic education in the state.
On his part, the Kogi State Coordinator of nomadic education, Abdulkadir Adoga said the challenge they had was due to the non challant attitude of the previous administrations towards nomadic education in the state.
“We inherited nomadic education from Benue and Kwara states with 35 teachers in all. They formed the bulk of teachers we have in Kogi. Since the creation of the state, we have lost six teachers who are from various nomadic schools across the state.
“There has been no replacement and no new recruitments, and that is why we are facing problems of acute shortage of teachers in nomadic primary schools in the state.
“Out of the 25 schools, it is only Nomadic Primary school Abobo 1 in Adavi LGA that has a standard structure. It was built by the Commission in 2013. There have been no structures put in place in the remaining schools.
“In most places, the pupils learn under trees. They use their laps as their desks. We about 3,881 pupils across the 25 nomadic schools at the moment.
He said the Commission for Nomadic Education has been sending them learning materials, but the lack of teachers has been the challenge.
“When you have the learning instruments and you don’t have the teachers, you can’t do anything. We have text books for Mathematics, English Language and host of others, but no teachers to handle them and where we have the teachers, they are inadequate.
“How would you expect a single teacher to teach from primary one to six. What we usually ask the teachers to do is to adopt a multigraded teaching method by combining two classes or more,” he said.
Apart from the challenge of teachers, early marriage amongst the Fulani girls also remains a problem, according to Adoga, adding “you can hardly see a female Fulani getting to primary six.”
“Once they are getting to maturity, they marry them off. In fact by their culture, their first menstruation should be done in their husbands’ house. You see that by the time some of them are in primary four, they are mature already. There is need for more advocacy in that regard”, he said.
Governor Yahaya Bello who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Civil Society Organisations and NGOs, Hajiya Nana Abu Ali said the governor was committed to the education of pastoralists and general wellbeing.
“He is a people oriented governor and that was why when there were complaints from all over the country about the cattle colony, he said he’s open to the people to come here and establish themselves.
“That means he has an interest in the wellbeing of pastoralists. For me to be here today, he gave the approval to observe and listen to the people’s plight and give him a feedback. Now they have told us they do not have schools and where they have, they probably built it themselves but lack teachers.
“And then the women also told me they do not have water. They have to go very far away in search of water and their children also go far away in search of western education.
“And I have promised them on behalf of his excellency that their plights would be looked into. The issues on ground now have been there before the present administration came on board, and I can assure that the governor we have is a visionary leader.
“I have seen their enthusiasm. If they could build their own school, we will be ready to support them. We will ensure the children are provided conducive learning environment and teachers.
According to her, encouraging western education amongst the pastoralists would go a long way in addressing the level of conflicts between them and farmers “because when they are able to read about others, it will promote better understanding.”
On his part, the Director of School Services at Kogi SUBEB, Ajibola Gabriel Folorunsho said the Board would look into the challenges bedevilling nomadic education
Ajibola, who represented the Executive Chairman of SUBEB during the tour, noted that his principal is a passionate lover of education, and would ensure the progress of nomadic schools in the state.
“I have seen and I have heard. I know he is a lover of education and knows most of the problems facing education in Kogi. We are so much interested in the nomads. Will ensure success of the programme,” he said. their