The Igembe South adult literacy officer, Muriungi Eustus, has called upon the county government of Meru to construct classrooms and increase national examination centres for adult literacy programmes.
While speaking in his office, he said in Igembe South, they have only two centres where their students sit for their KCPE and KCSE.
“We have only two centres for the national examination, that is, Maua Primary School for those doing KCPE and Christ the King Igembe School for KCSE students,” he said.
Mariungi explained that in the region, 311 people have enrolled in the programme, with 170 males and 141 females.
He informed that their programme consists of three levels: the basic level, which deals with people who have never been in school before; postliteracy level, which deals with those who are able to write, read Bible, read storybooks, listen to news and learn some arithmetic; and the continuing level, which involves learners who left school early before completion of primary education or secondary education and want to sit for their national exams.
Muriungi maintained that due to lack of facilities like classrooms and laboratories, they use chief’s camp, churches and primary schools to conduct their teachings.
“We use one classroom and divide the blackboard into sections depending on different levels of learners,” he said.
He revealed, however, that in the region they only have eight instructors who are paid a stipend of Sh 2000 per month and urged the county government to employ instructors to curb the shortage.
He also disclosed that sometimes learners are forced to buy learning materials due to scarcity experienced over the same.
Muriungi added that some learners have been motivated to enroll the programme to acquire knowledge in income generating programmes such as beekeeping, poultry and mobile banking.
He further urged members of the public to enrol in the programmes to at least minimise, if not eradicate, the illiteracy in the region.
He also noted that one of the beneficiaries of the adult education programme has reached the degree level and therefore the programme should be given key support to bring it to fruition.
“We urge the government to bring the programme into full attention, for it has been neglected since the inception of free primary and secondary education.”
By Kamanja Maeria and Abigael Jadiel
