Mandera registers upsurge in adult learners

By ADOW JUBAT

Mandera, Kenya: The number of adult joining school after losing their livestock to recurrent droughts has increased in Mandera County, according to an education official.

 This year alone, seventy adults aged between 20 and 30 have been registered for 2014 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in Mandera East sub county. Confirming the incident, Mandera East Adult Education officer Abdow Isaak Ibrahim said the number could have been higher, if it were not for the strict registration rules by the Kenya Examination Council.

 Transact business

He said most candidates are men who have realised the need for education after losing their livestock to drought and are mainly interested in knowing how to write and speak some English to be able to transact business.

 According to him, most people spend most of their time herding and in Islamic Madarasas and join school at an advanced age after realising the need for formal education.

 He appealed to the locals in Mandera East to take their children to school for formal education to avoid such situations in future.