Uneducated Men Challenged To Join Literacy Classes: Gender Disparities in Adult Education Enrollment
Men who are illiterate have been urged to enroll in adult literacy classes in order to make up for lost time.
Mercy Njiriri, the Kajiado County Adult and Continuing Education Officer, reported that fewer men than women were enrolling in the classes due to their different lifestyles and cultural norms.
Njiriri disclosed that the nomadic lifestyle of the Maasai community made it difficult for the men to enroll in school because they were constantly on the move in search of water and pasture for their animals.
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She stated that there is a notable gender imbalance in adult education classes, with a limited number of men enrolling compared to women.
This gender gap is primarily attributed to the fact that many men are pastoralists who frequently relocate with their livestock, which significantly hinders their ability to pursue education.
The officer added at the Osiligi Adult Education Centre that cultural beliefs have also prevented the men from acquiring fundamental literacy skills.
She explained that the majority of men in the community believe that freely interacting with women in public is against their culture, so they avoid the classes.
Njiriri reported that numerous uneducated men express reluctance to attend classes alongside women, citing cultural reasons that discourage them from openly interacting with women in public.
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Additionally, some men avoid participating in such educational settings because they feel embarrassed when women outperform them in the classroom.
The officer urged the men to abandon their regressive beliefs and enroll in the classes, noting that in addition to acquiring writing and reading skills, adult learners also receive instruction in business skills, family planning, civic education, agriculture, and nutrition, among other subjects.
Njiriri urged local leaders, community figures, and advocates to raise awareness among men and encourage them to dispel certain incorrect beliefs.
She emphasized the importance of men collaborating with women to access education. She also pointed out that the adult education sector encounters significant obstacles, including teacher shortages and inadequate classroom facilities.
Njiriri urged the government to increase the number of adult education classes and the number of teachers in the region to accommodate the large number of uneducated adults.
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Daniel Tisike, a volunteer instructor at the Osiligi Centre, disclosed that none of his 76 adult education students were male.
According to Tisike, there are a large number of uneducated men in the area, but none of them have enrolled in classes due to the community’s economic conditions.
He expressed that there is a substantial population of illiterate men, but they face significant challenges when attempting to enroll in classes. The primary obstacle is their demanding responsibility of searching for pasture and water for their livestock, which leaves them with limited time to dedicate to education.
The volunteer instructor added that the introduction of men only’ classes in the area would encourage more men to enroll because they would feel more at ease.
Uneducated Men Challenged To Join Literacy Classes: Gender Disparities in Adult Education Enrollment
