Nomadic education in South-East troubled by Fulani Herdsmen, farmers’ conflicts

www.odogwublog.com reports that the National Commission for Nomadic Education, Kaduna has raised the alarm over the mounting level of insecurity in the South East zone.
It said that the frequent bloody clashes existing between the herdsmen and the farmers in their host communities in the zone were the major setbacks in the enrolment of students in the nomadic schools in the areas.
This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bashir Haruna Usman, at a 5-day teacher training workshop for nomadic teachers on the Use of Curriculum Guides, Records Keeping, Guidance & Counseling and Multigrade Teaching Techniques in the South East zone holding at Jesse Hotels, Awka, Anambra State.
Prof. Usman, represented by the commission’s Director, Social Mobilization and Outreach, Mohammed El-nafaty, added that kidnapping and other social vices being perpetuated in the zone has hindered the efforts of the commission to ensure that nomads get the best education for self-development.
 “The Commission is particularly worried about the state of affairs in the South East zone which is informed by the heightening levels of insecurity challenges relating to conflict between farmers and pastoralists, kidnapping and other social vices in the zone” he lamented.
“However, the teacher productivity is always tied to intrinsic motivation which suggests that teachers’ welfare must be enhanced, particularly those in the nomadic schools. However, the commission is also trying to explore other opportunities in collaboration with states and local governments to improve the teaching and learning environment in nomadic schools.”
In his speech, the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, represented by his Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, said that despite these aforesaid challenges, the state has stood out from the crowd to record significant enrolment of nomads in the schools established in the states.
“Currently, we have a total of 95 nomadic schools in the state comprising of 42 migrant farmers, 8 pastoralists and 42 fisherfolks with an enrolment figure of 11,360 out of which 5,707 are males and 5,653 are females. While we have a total of 496 teachers made up of 398 females and 98 males.”
Contributing, the Director, Programme Development of National Commission for Nomadic Education, Alhaji Ardo Aliyu; and the Executive Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, Nzemeka Olisa, commended the NCNE for their critical roles in transforming that subsector of education in the country even as they sought for an enhanced synergy and understanding between nomads and their host communities for peaceful coexistence.