An assessment of strategies used in promoting basic education for girls in Monduli district pastoral communities

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the strategies used in Monduli district promoted the participation of girls from pastoral communities in basic education. To realize the objectives of the study, qualitative approaches were employed. Data from five Primary Schools namely, Losimingori, Manyara Ranch, Oltukai, Esilalei and EngarukaJuu were collected through observations, interviews and documentary reviews techniques. The research findings revealed that boarding schools, school feeding programme, girls’ education, community sensitization, Community Based Children Centres(CBCCs) and refraining from detrimental cultural practices were used for promoting girls’ education in Monduli district. Boarding schools were found to be ideal for promoting girls’ education. However, the girls were less represented in those schools. It was also found that school feeding programmes increased enrolment, retention and girls attendance. It was noted that girls’ education enabled girls to oppose forced marriages and proceed with schooling. Moreover, Community Based Child Centres in Sepeko ward increased Gender Parity Index GPI in basic education. Lastly, indigenous leaders claimed to refrain from detrimental cultural practices despite the fact that some of them honoured and defended them as important values. Based on research findings, it was concluded that girls in pastoral communities were still marginalized and hindered from participating in basic education, which called for more strategies to address the problem. The study recommended that pastoralists be involved in policy making, and that enrolment in boarding schools should consider the targeted groups in light of gender equity. Another recommendation was that the human rights fora should work with rural pastoralists who infringe on girls’ rights to education. It was also recommended that a specific study be carried out to trace the wellbeing of girls who dropped out from school as a result of forced marriages.