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Modifying the education system for children of migratory pastoralists of Jammu and Kashmir State of India for equitable growth
Author
Neetika, S
Publisher
XII International Rangeland Congress
Publication Year
2025
Body

Children whose elders are actively engaged in pastoralism are becoming more and more demanding when it comes to their schooling. Poverty-stricken households view education as a means of escaping their situation, whereas pastoralist households view it as a means of sustaining their system of production in a world that is becoming more interconnected. Education systems, on the other hand, are still focused on "educating pastoral children out of pastoralism" and are failing to adapt to this change in demand. Programmes for education intended for sedentary individuals are typically expanded to include pastoralists, and they are predicated on a straightforward modification of sedentary models to account for some elements of nomadic living. The greatest transhuman t population in the world is found in Jammu & Kashmir. The Gujjars and Bakarwals make up the majority of the population in this part of the Himalayan valley and are the third largest ethnic group there. Bakarwals are people who herd sheep and goats, whereas Gujjars raise big ruminants like cows and buffaloes. The Chopans are a group of semi-nomad people who traditionally raise sheep in Kashmir for their meat and wool. For four to six months, the pastoralists migrate to the southern regions of the state, where they can find suitable climate conditions for their livestock to graze. Their children's education is their main issue because of the disparities in the curricula. A study was conducted on the possibility of opening mobile schools to provide children from migrant populations with a uniform education. Children from mobile schools outperformed those from stationary schools in terms of intellect. When compared to sedentary schools, the dropout rate from mobile schools was noticeably lower. In addition, a number of other socio-economic and ecological factors were investigated for overall welfare of the ethnic groups.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Additional Information
This paper is part of the larger XII International Rangelands Congress Proceedings. Page Numbers: 35-38. Theme: Theme 1 / Cultivating knowledge among pastoralists’ children, students, rangeland professional, and broader society
ISSN
978-0-646-72121-7
Conference Name
International Rangeland Congress
Collection
International Rangelands Congress
Keywords
migratory pastoralists
education system
mobile schools
equitable growth