Himba and education
editHimba people are ethnic group lives in Kaokoland mostly in Epupa constituency.They are one of the group that kept their tradition in Namibia.Himba parents do not support education. They rather prefer cattle, goats and sheep then education as a sign of wealth[1]. When a Himba man sees people who don’t follow their traditions, They tend to excludes them thinking they are wanderers. When thier childs(Himba) reached 10 years of age ,its regarded as the right time for him to look after small livestock such as goats and sheep. If he turns the age of 15 and above, then he is regarded as a matured man. He is now respected by his parent as well as the community.He can now stay at the cattle-post(Ohambo) in Otjiherero.Therefore he cannot go to school. If he/she mentions something about education, then his/her parents will have to talk to their ancestors because their boy is said to be jinxed by neighbors who are jealous of that family. However ,Mobile schools[2] were introduced and administered by Norway's Namibia Association (NAMAS) together with government of the republic of Namibia in Kunene region to grab the ovahimba’s attention toward the education.Children do not pay school fees at these schools,they usually attend classes in their traditional attires and no school uniforms required.Very few successful himbas(learners) who are at high schools and are mostly those who were highly ecouraged by their early grades(gr.1 and 2) teachers to further their education.Those who could not listen to thier parents's advices not to added schools,are now the one at high schools.Many have to struggle[3] for themselves to go to school,even though its against their parent's decisions.
The current himba education level
editNormally,himba are one of the marginalised community in Namibia.Therefore due to the lack of understanding the term Education.It has been hard to go to school as it described above.Generally, a slide number of boys than girls are educated.Very few boys are at high instutution as as Polytechnic of Namibia,University of Namibia and NIMT
See also
editreferences
edit- ^ Tanya bause(2011),himba children kept out of school to herd animals, The Namibian
- ^ Emily, R(2010), Ondao School and Himba Tribe,Namibia retrieved from http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Namibia/blog-469407.html on 26 September 2012
- ^ Delmi,A.(2010).Himbas, struggle for survive.retrieved from www.gaia-photos.com/namibia-himbas-survival on 15 September 2012