Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Pastoralist Education Development in Ethiopia

Abstract

There is a renewal of interest in the role of indigenous knowledge for marginalized
societies after a long period of disregard for its contribution to sustainable
development and educational relevance. The attention being given to indigenous
knowledge is apparent in the role that it plays in human and animal health care,
the use and management of natural resources, education, poverty alleviation, and
community resilience and livelihoods. Recognizing and considering indigenous
knowledge in development planning can also be viewed as a response to a given
community's quest for the right of self-determination and the preservation of
cultural identities. Research is generating more and more data showing the
relevance of indigenous knowledge for the sustainable development of the
pastoralist community. This article attempted to review and advocate the need to
harness indigenous knowledge in the education system of the pastoralist
community in Ethiopia. The study’s methodology was a qualitative document
review with critical reflections in view of understanding the role of indigenous
knowledge for pastoralist development and the need to integrate it into the
pastoralist education curriculum in Ethiopia. I concluded that if indigenous
knowledge is to play its part in effecting sustainable development, there is a need
for the systematic harnessing of informal and non-formal educational programs of
the pastoralist community in Ethiopia.