A Thika adult learners’ education officer has said lack of qualified teachers, low remuneration package and lack of teaching equipment are some of the challenges facing adult learning in the region.
Speaking in his office in Thika Town on Tuesday, Francis Kariuki noted that the trend has led to low enrolment in the institutions.
“These institutions have inadequate teachers and lack teaching equipment, a trend that is leading to low admissions. Unless the trend is reversed, we may not achieve our millennium development goal of eliminating illiteracy among our people,” said Kariuki.
He added, “The government has not done enough in offering quality education in adult learning institutions.”
Kariuki blamed the rising crime wave in the area to high level of illiteracy among locals saying thousands of youths remain jobless thereby indulge themselves in unlawful income generating activities.
He asked the government to scale up adult learning and stretch the programme to accommodate youths who did not have the opportunity of accessing formal learning.
While advising the locals to register en mass, the officer said 172 adult learners had already enrolled themselves for this month’s programme.
He noted that the programme, which started in 1979 countrywide has assisted many Kenyans achieve life skills that have enabled them engage in productive livelihoods.
“We are committed to bringing meaningful changes to livelihoods within our communities through training of elderly persons despite enormous financial constraints that we are facing,” said Kariuki.
He added: “The programme has enabled graduates venture into productive activities including sound management of the Jua Kali, teaching and business sectors.”
The officer asked area leaders including politicians to assist the programme by improving the institutions’ basic infrastructure and equipping them with learning materials.