The Director of Adult and Continuing Education (ACE) in the Ministry of Education Mr Franklin Mugambi has called on County Governments to assist the department in constructing more classrooms in order to help adult learners across the country.
While saying they lack classrooms for adult learners, Mugambi said that currently they were learning in social halls, churches, mosques and primary schools in some parts of the country.
“The counties are governments with resources, and we urge them to support the program by building adult education learning centers as we will bring learners and provide instructors,” said the Director, while addressing the media at Mwaani Girls High school where they met a stakeholder’s forum for advocacy of adult education.
Further, the director asked the county governments to supplement their efforts by employing more instructors in order to curb the teacher shortage, while adding that currently the government was paying them Sh2,000 per month.
However, Mugambi disclosed that some of the teachers were either form four leavers or university graduates who volunteer their services, but quit soon after they get jobs elsewhere.
“I thank the County Government of West Pokot and Taita Taveta for employing 300 teachers and constructing classrooms respectively. This has helped to fight illiteracy in the two counties,” he said.
Speaking at the same forum, the Makueni County Adult and Continuing Education Officer, Prisca Nduku, said that they have enrolled 3,961 adult learners, comprised of 3,382 women and 579 men.
She further revealed that they have registered 25 adult learners for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and 53 for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, which will be done early next year.
Mugambi was accompanied by Deputy Director ACE Janet Rotich, Assistant Director ACE Albert Aluvisia, Assistant County Commissioner Makueni Esther Sinda, Assistant Director ACE Evelyn Odongo and County Quality Assurance Officer Makueni, Dr Samson Arodi.
By Lawrence Mwendwa and Janet Mutuku
