The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has announced plans to breathe new life into Kenya’s adult education programme, with a renewed push to give every citizen a chance at learning no matter their age.
This comes after the Directorate of Adult Learning and Education was moved from the Ministry of Education and placed under the Labour docket a shift the ministry says signals a fresh start and stronger commitment to lifelong learning.
Speaking after a meeting with senior officials from the Directorate, Labour CS said adult education goes beyond reading and writing. “It’s about restoring dignity, giving hope, and offering real skills to those who never got a fair shot at school,” he said.
Over 124,000 adult learners are currently enrolled in centres across the country. But the ministry admits the sector faces major hurdles from outdated learning materials and limited funding, to staff shortages and lack of up-to-date data. In fact, the last national literacy survey was done nearly 20 years ago.
To fix this, the government is planning several changes like hiring more instructors, increasing funding for learning centres, and revising the curriculum to improve today’s job market. Also the new curriculum will be aligned with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The CS said adult education should not be viewed as a “last resort” but as an opportunity to empower Kenyans of all ages.
As part of the reforms, the ministry will also be working closely with counties and partners to improve facilities and fight stigma around adult learning.
