By Oanga Oyugi
Adult education in Kisii is facing enrolment and retention challenges following the scaling down of centres of learning and a shortage of instructors.
The enrolment rates at these facilities have been on the decline over the past three years. Last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) had only 86 registered learners compared to 116 the previous year.
Kisii County Director of Adult and Continuing Learning David Mong’are said the county is registering less than 150 learners every year from all the 7 accredited private exam centres.
Learners are forced to walk long distances to access the available centres, thus contributing to high rates of dropout as most of them are advanced in age or have other pressing concerns.
Disinformation on adult learning also stigmatizes learners, such as being derided for sitting with their grandchildren in class.
In addition, there is also a conflict in the time they are expected to be in class.
“The evening time set by the government to attend lessons coincides with the flow of customers to buy commodities. Also, tutors fail to turn up sometimes, discouraging the learners,” said Zachary Momanyi, an adult learner.
