Nyandarua County Concerned About Low Male Enrollment in Adult Education
Margaret Nduku, director of adult education in Nyandarua County, has decried the low participation of males in the region in adult education.
According to Nduku, men’s lack of enthusiasm for education has caused them to lag behind women in adult education enrollment in the region.
The Director reported that only 222 of the 787 adult learners who will take the basic literacy exam this year are males, compared to 557 women.
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Nduku, speaking at the Ol Jororok stadium during the International Literacy Day celebrations for the County, stated that the total number of adult education students in Nyandarua was 1,415, which she deemed insufficient in comparison to the population of the area.
She reported that in post-literacy, there were only 137 men attending classes, as opposed to 283 women. Post-primary enrollment, she noted, consisted of 52 men and 102 women.
In the secondary section, the figures stood at 22 men and 33 women, according to her statement.
The Director said learning space has also been a significant challenge for adult learners because, at times, they find nursery schools or churches unavailable during their lesson time.
According to Nduku, the lack of stationary and other learning materials is yet another obstacle, and he expressed optimism that the government will begin financing adult education in the same manner as it does regular learning programs.
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She stated that additional co-curricular activities will be added in an effort to attract more students.
Nduku stated that the county had introduced economic projects aimed at enabling learners to earn income while pursuing their education.
Nduku expressed concerns that without these initiatives, the classrooms might remain vacant, potentially leading to the decline of adult education in the County.
We also intend to introduce athletic activities to increase enrollment,” she said.
Josephine Kihara, the Deputy County Commissioner for Nyandarua West, spoke on behalf of Mohammed Barre, the County Commissioner, when she stated that in this age of technology, fundamental education is crucial in almost every aspect of life.
“As you have seen, mobile phones are used for a variety of other purposes, and those without a basic education will be left behind in a variety of ways,” said Kihara.
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She encouraged the instructors and students to use their adult education classes to discuss mental health issues.
Regarding the low enrollment rate of men in adult education, the Deputy County Commissioner says the boy-child must be encouraged to regain his lost self-respect and prevent him from drifting further away.
Nyandarua County Concerned About Low Male Enrollment in Adult Education
