Ngumbaru learners shy about sharing classrooms with their kids

Education stakeholders in Mbeere region of Embu County have cited unfavourable learning conditions as an impediment to the many school drop outs who want to resume schooling through the adult education system.

Mbeere South director of Adult Education Magdalene Chabari said the region was facing lack of proper classrooms for adults, with many adult learners shying from sharing same facilities with their children and grandchildren.

 Chabari said there are many people willing to pursue learning as adults shy off due to stigma and misconception that those pursuing adult education are illiterate.

“Adult education centres lack specific classrooms for adults. They use the same classrooms as their children and fear being seen going to school. Some prefer to go very early in the morning or in the evening,” she said.

She added that the number of instructors kept on dwindling as those that retired are not immediately replaced by the government.

Speaking during a forum on adult education at Kiritiri CDF Hall, Chabari said the trend must be reversed or else development in the area will slow.

Embu County Director of Adult Education Stephen Mboi warned that unless a way is found to lure drop outs back to school, the Mbeere region may fail to attain the Vision 2030 due to high rates of illiterates.

Mbeere has seen many cases of children, especially boys dropping out of school to work in miraa farms or in sand harvesting.

“The stakeholders must emphasize on the importance of adult education to the community by reaching out to the school drops and showing them the need to resume school,” said Mboi.

He said the government was providing funds for adult education and urged target learners to seize opportunity of the same.

Mavuria MCA Ngari Mbaka and his nominated counterpart Rose Kinyua proposed that adult education should be devolved to the counties so that it can be managed properly.

Mbaka said the region had about 10 instructors employed on permanent terms while many worked as part-timers drawing a stipend of Sh2000 monthly, which is paid late hence many are demotivated.

“The county and national government should liaise and place the adult teachers in a system where they are remunerated competitively and on time. The system should be streamlined so that learners have comfortable classrooms, enough instructors and learning materials,” he said.