Tharaka nithi: Adult learners in Tharaka Nithi County are being encouraged to register for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) before the year 2027, as the current adult education system is set to be phased out. Samuel Kabita, the County Director of Adult and Continuing Education, made this announcement during a session at Muringa Adult Secondary Education Centre in Chuka.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kabita highlighted the importance of the Accelerated Education Programme, which allows adult learners to cover the syllabus in a condensed timeline. This programme will be discontinued as Kenya transitions to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system starting in 2028. He emphasized that those wishing to take the KCSE through adult education need to act before 2027, as the traditional examination pathway will not exist under the new CBE framework.
Kabita noted that 57 adult learners have already registered for the KCSE this year in Tharaka Nithi, indicating increased interest in adult education. He stressed the importance of adult learning in providing communities with essential skills in literacy, numeracy, and digital technologies. "Our priority is to ensure every adult in this county who missed formal education gets an opportunity now," he stated, highlighting the role of education in enhancing dignity, livelihoods, and societal development.
While acknowledging existing challenges such as a shortage of instructors and limited resources, Kabita reassured residents of the government's dedication to bolstering the programme. He expressed confidence in the Ministry of Education's ongoing support to widen access to lifelong learning across the county.
Francisca Nkirote, the Adult Education Officer for Meru South Sub-county, praised the success of the programme, noting that adult learners are progressing to universities comparable to their peers from formal schools. She urged more residents to participate in the free programme and called for additional instructors to broaden its accessibility.