NACONEK CEO Calls for Flexible, Inclusive Education Pathways for Africa’s Pastoralist Learners
Mr. Harun Yusuf, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK), has called on African governments and education stakeholders to move beyond school enrolment and build flexible, inclusive and sustainable learning pathways for nomadic and marginalised communities.
Delivering a keynote address at the International Conference on Nomadic and Alternative Education Approaches in Africa at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), held from November 3–5, the CEO said education systems must adapt to the realities of pastoralist livelihoods, mobility and climate-related disruptions.
The conference was held under the theme “Strengthening Inclusive and Flexible Education Pathways for Nomadic Pastoralists and Marginalized Learners in Africa.” The keynote, titled “From Access to Transformation: Reimagining Inclusive, Flexible and Resilient Education for Nomadic and Marginalized Communities in Africa,” highlighted barriers such as long distances to schools, poverty, insecurity, teacher shortages, gender inequality and inadequate learning infrastructure.
The CEO stressed that mobility should not be treated as an educational disadvantage, noting that conventional systems built around fixed locations, rigid calendars and uninterrupted attendance often fail to accommodate pastoralist communities. The goal, the address said, should be to ensure that children can pursue quality education without being forced to abandon their communities, livelihoods or cultural identities.
The address called for a broader measure of educational success that includes foundational literacy and numeracy, sustained participation, completion, recognised certification and progression to further education and skills development. Flexible education, it emphasised, must not become a second-tier system or lower academic standards.
Among the approaches highlighted were mobile and satellite schools, flexible academic calendars, community-based learning centres, alternative and accelerated basic education, low-cost boarding facilities and technology-supported learning. The CEO noted, however, that no single model would work in every context, and that interventions should be informed by evidence, community consultation and learners’ needs.
The address also underscored the importance of investing in teachers, strengthening community participation and addressing barriers faced by girls and learners with disabilities. It called for curricula that recognise indigenous knowledge in areas such as livestock, ecosystems, weather, water and natural resource management, while equipping learners with skills and competencies for wider opportunities.
Technology was identified as a useful tool for expanding access, provided that solutions respond to local realities such as limited connectivity, electricity, affordability and digital skills. The CEO said digital learning should complement teachers and community support rather than replace meaningful human interaction. Education systems were also urged to prepare for climate shocks, insecurity and displacement to protect learning continuity.
Drawing on Kenya’s experience, the CEO highlighted NACONEK’s role in advancing access to quality basic education for underserved communities through initiatives such as Low-Cost Boarding Schools, Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET), school meals and community engagement. The address noted that these interventions must be supported by adequate resources, effective implementation and pathways to further education.
The CEO proposed five priorities for a shared African agenda: establishing flexible and recognised learning pathways; investing in teachers and community partnerships; making equity and climate resilience central to education systems; securing sustainable financing and stronger governance; and building a continental evidence and learning agenda.
Delegates were encouraged to translate the conference’s deliberations into practical commitments with clear actions, responsible institutions, timelines, financing requirements and measurable indicators.
The CEO reaffirmed NACONEK’s commitment to equitable access to quality basic education for nomadic and marginalised communities in Kenya, while calling for stronger continental cooperation to ensure that no child has to choose between their community’s livelihood and their right to education.