Stakeholders in Garissa County are calling for a concerted effort to achieve 100% enrollment of children in primary schools. The county is significantly affected by the issue of out-of-school children aged 6-13, many of whom remain at home or in villages.
Key factors contributing to this problem include parental illiteracy, poverty, the nomadic lifestyle of the communities, retrogressive cultural practices such as early marriages, and frequent droughts and flooding. Stakeholders emphasize that addressing these issues is critical to boosting school enrollment rates.
Osman Mohamed, an education specialist with UNICEF, highlighted the progress made over the last six years in increasing school enrollment. “Garissa County has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children, second only to Mandera County. According to the 2019 census, approximately 152,000 children are out of school,” he said. Mohamed noted that a campaign by UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has returned 25,000 children to school over the past three years, although the target was 41,000.
The campaign has also focused on providing education supplies and improving school infrastructure. Efforts include setting up low-cost boarding schools and renovating existing ones to ensure a conducive learning environment with adequate water and sanitation facilities. “Garissa County is predominantly pastoralist, so children from remote areas and those whose parents move frequently in search of water and pasture face significant challenges in accessing education,” Mohamed explained.
Benjamin Kinywa, Garissa County Children Coordinator, pointed out that the community’s nomadic way of life and preference for religious education over secular education are major hurdles. “We face a huge task because this is a nomadic community. They move frequently, often away from areas with schools,” Kinywa said. He added that the government had initiated a mobile schools program to provide education wherever the children move, but the program faced numerous challenges.
Kinywa also noted that many parents prioritize religious education and are unaware of the importance of secular education. “Changing the mindset of illiterate parents who prioritize religious education is a tall order. We are working to sensitize the community on the importance of secular education,” he said.
Siyat Hussein, Head Teacher of Iftin Primary and Junior School, acknowledged the positive impact of efforts by the Ministry of Education, local administration, UNICEF, community members, and religious leaders. His school has seen 552 children return to school due to these interventions. “Poverty is the main reason children drop out of school in our area. Parents struggle to provide food, making it difficult for children to concentrate in class,” Hussein said. He also cited lack of parental care and illiteracy as contributing factors.
Dekow Mohamud, Senior Chief of Iftin East location, Garissa sub-county, called for the formation of a multi-agency team to bring together various stakeholders and ensure the success of the initiative to return all children to school.
The collective efforts of stakeholders aim to address the barriers to education in Garissa and ensure that every child has the opportunity to attend school and secure a brighter future.
