How INES mobile school system expanded access to education for Daasanach children in Illeret

By Nangori Silvio

The Illeret Nomadic Education System (INES) expanded access to basic education among Daasanach pastoralist children in Illeret by providing a mobile school system tailored to their nomadic way of life.

The initiative which was was developed and spearheaded by a Benedictine priest Father Florian after consultations with Daasanach families, who expressed a desire for schools that could move with them as they migrate in search of pasture and water.

The mobile schools use a flexible learning approach known as “Ladders of Learning,” which allows children to progress at their own pace through activity-based learning. The system covers literacy and numeracy while also incorporating lessons on hygiene, nutrition, peacebuilding and money management.

Learners are additionally introduced to Kiswahili and English.

To support the programme, INES established a teacher training centre in Illeret where members of the Daasanach community can be trained as mobile teachers. The initiative aims to ensure that children from pastoralist families can access education without abandoning their traditional lifestyle.

The programme was established to address challenges faced by pastoralist communities in accessing conventional education, with organizers seeking to provide an alternative model that responds to the realities of nomadic life in northern Kenya.

Father Florian was an active Benedictine missionary in Kenya since 1984. In 2002 he took over the mission to the nomadic people in the north of Kenya close to the Ethiopian border.

His work, explained impressively in his book (in German) ‘’Weil es etwas Größeres gibt“ (‘Because there is something greater’) covered not only the teaching of the Christian faith but also mainly help with the building of wells, the running of a technical workshop, help in everyday life and schooling for the nomad children.

His long experience of mission work taught Father Florian about the everyday challenges facing the nomadic people, and in particular that the existing schools are inadequate for the education of nomadic children. Conversations with the families revealed that parents support their children going to school when the school comes to them and moves around with them.

Fr. Florian Died on 22nd June 2022 at 19:00 hours in the evening.

Until his demise, he was the Sub-Prior of Tigoni Abbey since October 2020.