170 adult learners are sitting for the last Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams this year in Kakamega County.
Speaking to KNA, the County Director of Adult Learning and Continuing Education, Isaiah Nyamweno, said the adult candidates include 63 females and 44 males.
He said only Kakamega Central, Kakamega North, Matungu, Mumias West, Lugari, Butere, and Matete sub-counties out of 12 sub-counties registered adult learners sitting for KCPE as private candidates.
“Some sub-counties don’t have candidates because some of our teachers have retired; hence, we did not have learning in those sub-counties,” he pointed out.
He also said that those registered for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) are 107, of whom 51 are male and 56 are female.
“We have low enrolment, but we are utilising community barazas organised by the Ministry of Interior and national government administration to sensitise the public about our programme,” he noted.
He urged those who dropped out of school for various reasons to join the adult education programme and acquire KCPE and KCSE certificates, where they can later join colleges or Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) centres to get skills that can help them in the future.
He decried that despite Kakamega being among the largest counties in Kenya, with many TVET centres, youth are still shying away from pursuing education at the expense of quick money through the bodaboda business.
“We have the bodaboda economy, which has taken many of the youths because of the quick money from the business failing to devote some of their time to learn and gain skills through adult education and TVETs,” he noted.
Kakamega has 20 adult education centres, which are fully managed by adult education teachers, and 95 other adult education centres domiciled in faith-based institutions, which are managed by part-time teachers contracted on a casual basis.
He noted that due to a shortage of adult learning teachers, the department relies on students undertaking education from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology to train the adults and receive a token.
“We are waiting for direction from the government on how we will progress next year after this year being the last time when adult learners are sitting for KCPE exams,” he added.
By Moses Wekesa
