Kilifi County enrolled over 10,400 learners in adult literacy centres, posting the highest enrolment rate in the country.
The County Adult Education Officer Argwings Owuor has also disclosed that they have managed to register a total of 292 students for national examinations.
“We register adult candidates privately for national exams. This year we have registered 128 KCPE candidates and 164 KSCE candidates. They will do their exams and continue to the next stages of their lives,” he said.
Owour was speaking at Misufini village in Ganze sub-county, during celebrations to mark this year’s International Literacy Day under the theme, Promoting Literacy for a Sustainable and Peaceful Kenyan society.
The Director urged young people and adults whose education was cut short due to life circumstances to enroll in adult institutions and continue with their education.
“I urge young people and adults who stopped going to school due to various circumstances to enroll in adult institutions and continue with their education. Education has no end. We want to see the problem of illiteracy being completely eradicated from our society,” he explained.
The Director also encouraged parents to remain open and help their children with homework, stating that in the current CBC program, both parents and student are learners.
On his part, Ganze sub-county Deputy County Commissioner Kenneth Boso emphasized the importance of adult education, while commending NGOs that have been supporting this noble initiative.
On the recent incidents where some religious leaders were found misleading their congregants, Boso told the residents that they could avoid being victims of such false doctrines if they only knew how to read and understand.
“If you do not know how to read the Bible, somebody else will read it for you, this person can read it for you in whichever way he/she pleases. It will be easy for this person to misguide you because you cannot read it for yourself and understand,” he said.
Additionally, the Deputy county commissioner encouraged parents to ensure that all eligible children are enrolled in school, adding that successful KCPE candidates can apply for help from the various bursaries available in both the county and national levels, as well as from NGOs operating in the area.
An adult education teacher at Misufini Resource Centre, Abraham Charo expressed his gratitude to the government for supporting the education program.
However, Charo pleaded with the government to equip the school with adequate furniture and teaching materials.
“We are currently faced with the challenge of inadequate furniture and teaching equipment like blackboards and chalk. I am seeking the government’s intervention to get these supplies so that we can improve the learning environment at the school,” he said.
By Cynthia Maseno and Jackson Msanzu
