Schooling for the Penan nomads
A pre-school adapted to nomadic life
Many Penan nomads would like to send their children to school. Particular care had to go into choosing the location of the pre-school, so that the children would be able to live with their families and in their culture while attending classes. A village on the edge of the nomads’ territory is the ideal place for it. At the end of 2006, the Penan are going to start constructing a pre-school building with support from the Bruno Manser Fund.
Instruction in their native tongue
It is important for the children to learn in an environment in which their own culture is respected. So they ought to be able to read, write and do sums in the Penan language. Two village women are going to teach the children. A number of adult Penan nomads have also shown an interest in attending school classes.
