Nyeri Faces Challenges in Sustaining Adult Education Programs

In Nyeri, the Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) learning program is experiencing a significant drop in enrolment numbers, which is attributed to the negative societal views on adult learning and an insufficient and demoralised teaching staff. The severity of the situation has raised concerns about a potential regression to illiteracy levels not seen since 2007.

According to Kenya News Agency, the County ACE Director, the program is facing sustainability issues, with a critical need for additional resources and concerted efforts from both national and county governments. Despite the staff’s commitment to keep the program running, the strain is evident, with only 73 adult learners registered for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and 661 candidates for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) this year.

Societal stigma plays a significant role in the low enrolment rates, as individuals are hesitant to admit their illiteracy or lack of formal education. Mokaya emphasized the need for awareness creation to combat this stigma, though the lack of resources makes this a challenging task. He highlighted that the illiteracy level in Nyeri could be even higher than it was in 2007, when the Kenya National Adult Literacy Level reported a 76% literacy rate for the county, above the national average of 66%.

The program is also grappling with staffing issues, with only 15 permanent teachers and 55 part-time instructors serving eight sub-counties. The lack of motivation among part-time instructors, due to poor remuneration and uncertainty about their career paths, further exacerbates the problem. Mokaya shared his concerns about the dwindling staff, noting that he has had to take on additional administrative duties due to recent retirements.

The gender disparity in enrolment is another issue, with female candidates outnumbering male candidates in this year’s KCSE exams. Mokaya attributed this disparity to societal pressures on men to provide for their families and a history of neglect towards the education of the girl child, who are now eagerly seeking education opportunities.

Despite Nyeri’s relatively high literacy rate of 80%, the ACE program has been experiencing a steady decline in adult learner enrolment since 2010. The program’s goals of providing literacy and adult education, survival skills, individual development, and bridging the literacy gap between men and women are at risk unless urgent measures are taken to address these challenges.