Policy Brief No. 11 of 2023-2024 on Promoting Efficient Utilization of Resources in Adult and Continuing Education Centres in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands

Abstract

Education plays an important role in driving social and economic development, making it vital to ensure that investments in this sector yield optimal returns. Quality education is a major determinant of sustainable development, and achieving universal access to education is a key goal for governments worldwide. The literacy rate improved from 61.5 per cent in 2007 to 78 per cent in 2021, which was attributable to improved access to alternative education programmes, including adult education programmes, free primary and day secondary education. Adult and Continuing Education Centres (ACEs) have been instrumental in providing education opportunities to out-of-school youth and adults in Kenya. As of 2017, there were 1,845 full-time instructors and 3,000 parttime instructors. The programme consists of 6,173 basic centres and 202 secondary centres. The total number of learners in ACEs totals 306,228, with 102,076 males and 204,152 females (Ministry of Education 2018). Additionally, there are five Multi-Purpose Development Training Institutes (MDTIs) and 217 Community Learning Resource Centres (CLRCs). The Directorate offers Adult and Continuing Education through Basic Adult Literacy Programme (BALP), Post-Literacy Programme (PLP), Continuing Education Programmes (CEP) and Community Education and Empowerment (CEE). The number of ACE centres have experienced a gradual decline from 2018 to 2019 and 2020, reaching 5,340, 5,161 and 4,932 in the respective years (Ministry of Education 2020).