Education

Kenya's adult education enrollment records 9.5 per cent decrease - report

An adult literacy class in Narok County. The enrollment of adult education learners across the country has significantly dropped, according to a new report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (Photo: KNA)

By Lucy Mumbi | Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Nairobi County recorded the highest number of adult education learners at (11,811), followed by Turkana (10,061), Nandi (4,909), Kitui (4,803) and Mandera (4,648) counties.

The enrollment of adult education learners across the country has significantly dropped, according to a new report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).

The report has revealed a 9.5 per cent decrease, with enrollment falling from 138,628 in 2022 to 125,402 in 2023.

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Female adult learners accounted for the largest percentage of the total enrollment in 2023 at 63.1 per cent.

Additionally, Nairobi County recorded the highest number of adult education learners at (11,811), followed by Turkana (10,061), Nandi (4,909), Kitui (4,803) and Mandera (4,648) counties.

However, Makueni County experienced the largest decline, with enrollment dropping sharply from 4,387 in 2022 to 832 in 2023.

Several counties also recorded a drop in enrollment. In Wajir, the number of adult learners decreased from 2,809 in 2022 to 1,946 in 2023. Isiolo saw a reduction from 908 in 2022 to 759 in 2023. Kilifi experienced a significant decline, with enrollment dropping from 7,211 in 2022 to 2,443 in 2023.

Similarly, Kwale's enrollment decreased from 2,296 in 2022 to 2,089 in 2023.

On the other hand, Migori County saw a substantial increase in enrollment, reaching 2,887 adult learners in 2023 during the period under review, from 668 in 2022.

Adult education refers to any type of education or instruction, either full-time or part-time, provided to individuals over the age of sixteen who are not attending a primary, intermediate, or secondary school, the Kenya School of Law, or any university or university college (unless that institution has a department specifically for adult education).

The Kenya Vision 2030 aims to achieve an 80 per cent adult literacy rate by expanding access, increasing participation in adult classes, improving program quality, and promoting e-learning. Despite these efforts, challenges such as teacher shortages, lack of resources, and funding issues persist.

Last year, Tana River County raised an alarm over a severe shortage of adult education teachers, leading to increased cases of illiteracy in the region.

County Adult Education Officer Robert Zoka said there were 100 learning centres in the County serving a total of 2,221 adult learners, including 523 males and 1698 females.

He lamented that some learners were learning under trees due to a lack of learning centres.

He noted that there were seven full-time teachers supported by 43 part-time teachers, who are all paid by some NGOs, church organisations, and well-wishers.

He spoke on September 8, 2023, during a gathering at Shikaadabu primary school in the Chelewe location of Tana North Sub County during celebrations to mark International Literacy Day.

“The national government needs to employ more full-time teachers to man the learning centres in order to retain the learners, improve the education standards of the adult learners, and reduce cases of illiteracy in the county,” he said.