International Journal of Academic Research and Development

Authors
Ablel Tekeste Berhane

Abstract
The overall objective of the study is to explore the cultural values plays (negatively or positively) in children’s education in the case of Surma ethnic group. The research employed a cross-sectional design and used both quantitative and qualitative research approach. The data collection tools were questionnaire, interview, observation and focus group discussion (FGD). The main result of the research indicated that cultural value particularly parental goal, value, opinion and aspiration was a major bottleneck to the process of formal education for decade hence to children’s educational advancement. Negative, (sometimes antagonistic) perception and misunderstanding of education as only means of income generation rather than seen education as a holistic human, social, and economic development for a society was other major factor made the process of formal education problematic. The research also uncovers the highly respected cultural event of Donga (stick dueling) is one of the major hindering factor to the process of formal Education. This attitude, cultural values negatively impacted the process of formal education. It is concluded that parental goal, value, attitude, and aspiration and the intactness of the community with their cultural and social value made the process of formal education difficult to enhance in the community thereby negatively impacted children’s education. Thus it needs a multi-faced intervention that considerer’s social, cultural, and political environment.