Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has unveiled a set of reforms aimed at revamping the adult education sector.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 16, after a meeting with officials from the Directorate of Adult Learning and Education, Mutua outlined the importance of adult education, especially to those who missed out on formal education.
"Adult learning is not just about basic literacy. It is a second chance for out-of-school youth. It is a pathway to dignity and self-reliance for older citizens. It is an opportunity for men and women who may have missed out on formal education to acquire relevant skills that enable them to live fuller, more productive lives,” he said.
With more than 124,000 adult learners enrolled in various centres across the country, Mutua admitted that the sector has long been hampered by persistent challenges.
"Yet, the sector continues to face major challenges including inadequate staffing, outdated curricula, limited funding, societal stigma, and underutilized training centres. Compounding these issues is the lack of up-to-date data, with the last national adult literacy survey conducted as far back as 2006,” he noted.
Read More
To address the challenges, Mutua noted that the ministry has embarked on a strategy designed to overhaul the adult education landscape.
According to the CS, the ministry will recruit more instructors and adult education officers to improve service delivery.
It will also boost budgetary allocations for infrastructure upgrades, provision of learning materials, and improved oversight.
In addition, the curriculum will be overhauled to align with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and equip learners with practical, market-relevant skills.
"As a Ministry, we are fully committed to revitalizing adult learning as a transformative force in our society. This is part of our broader agenda to build a fair and empowered nation where every Kenyan regardless of age has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive with dignity," he concluded.
