Nomadism is a worldwide phenomenon and its practitioners fall into three categories: (1) hunter/food gatherers, such as the Hadzabe in the United Republic of Tanzania; (2) itinerant workers, including the gypsies in North America; and (3) pastoralists, such as the Masai and Shuaw Arabs in Africa, the Sami in Finland, Norway, and Sweden, and the Inuits in Canada. These nomadic groups constitute a sizable portion of the world population. For instance, according to the United Nations, the 1977 population of pastoralists was estimated at 36.6 million. Nomads are viable people and a valuable national resource. On the other hand, they are the most severely disadvantaged groups in the acquisition of educational and welfare services because of their constant migration and dispersion. Nomad children are taught by their parents, older relations, and peer groups how to survive and earn a living. However, unless action is taken to arrest the cycle of educational deprivation regarding literacy and numeracy, the gap will become increasingly great in their society as the general standard of education rises in this current age of science and technology. Some countries (such as Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Israel, Norway, Sweden, Somalia, and Australia) have taken steps to ensure the rights of the nomads to education. Recently, educational planners have begun making use of nomad culture and experience as a starting point for their education. Suggested approaches include: boarding schools, mobile school teachers, the use of radio, and correspondence schools. Adult education programs should help nomad adults acquire practical skills for dealing with their daily problems. (CML)