The challenges facing implementation of adult education program in Kenya; a case Nakuru county.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In Kenya a lot of effort has been made towards improving adult education. In 1968, Parliamentary Act was passed that provided for the creation of the Board of Adult Education. Kenya has put in place strategies towards attainment of adult literacy which are contained in various official documents. The purpose of this study was to find out the challenges that face the successful implementation of the adult education program in Kenya. This study adopted the survey research design. It was carried out in Nakuru County. The study population had 136 subjects. These were, County Director of Adult and Continuing Education, nine District Adult Education Officers, fifty eight full time and sixty eight part time adult education teachers. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect data. Questionnaires were administered to the full time and part time teachers. Interviews were conducted with the County Director of adult education and District Adult Education officers. A pilot study was conducted in Baringo County. The results were used to determine the validity and reliability of the instruments. The data collected by the use of questionnaires was analyzed using (SPSS) computer program determine frequencies and percentages. The data was analyzed by use of inferential and descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and presented in form of tables. The findings of this study were intended to highlight the shortcomings in the adult education implementation strategies that would in turn enable policy makers address the issue from an informed position. The study established that availability of teaching personnel, availability of teaching-learning resources, accessibility of adult Education centers and policy issues significantly affected the success of implementation of ACE programs. Demographic characteristics of the respondents were also found to have a huge impact on the sustainability of the ACE programs. The findings revealed that unconducive teaching and learning environment, inadequate personnel and inadequate teaching and learning materials affected implementation and success of the programs. Following these research findings, the recommendations made to enhance the sustainability of the ACE programs were that stakeholders in ACE programs should come up with mitigating factors to curb gender disparity, part time teachers should be employed on permanent basis and be paid well, teaching and learning resources should be made available to ACE institutions, permanent infrastructure should be set up, these ACE centers be far away from primary, Nursery schools and churches so as to enhance accessibility and privacy. Also the Community should be sensitized on the benefits of adult education.