Factors Influencing Learners Enrolment in Adult Education, in Isinya Sub-county, Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

The Kenya constitution provides the right to access basic education by all citizens in order to address the issue of illiteracy. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that influence learners‟ enrolment in adult education in Isinya Sub-county, Kajiado County, Kenya. The objectives of the Study were; to establish how economic factors determine enrolment of learners in adult education, to determine how social factors affect enrolment of learners in adult education and to investigate how centre-related factors influence enrolment of learners in adult education. Descriptive survey research design was used in the study. The study targeted adult education learners from adult education public and private centres, adult education teachers and adult education administrators in Isinya Sub-county. The study used questionnaires and interview schedules. Data was analyzed using SPSS. The findings indicated that learners lacked enough resources to support their families and their educational needs. The findings revealed that adult education teachers did not charge tuition fee at the adult education centres. Adult education administrators agreed to a great extent that: the government provides free adult education programmes, although some other providers of adult education do charge tuition fee. Adult education learners revealed that they gave more priority to their work than education. From the findings, the adult education learners indicated that occasionally their spouses/relatives gave them support since they joined adult education programme. On social factors affecting enrolment of learners in adult education, adult education administrators indicated that: negative attitude towards adult education programme affected learners‟ enrolment. The adult education centres were not learner friendly. The findings finally revealed that economic factors had the most significant influence on learners‟ enrolment in adult education in Isinya Sub-county for both male and female. The study recommended that the government should put more emphasis on equipping learners with entrepreneurship skills to enable them enhance their income. The government should establish proper adult learning centres which are equipped with suitable furniture for adult learners. The study also recommended that more comprehensive studies should be undertaken to include a large population from all the sub-counties in Kajiado County in order to ascertain factors influencing learners‟ enrolment in adult education in the whole county as this study only covered Isinya Sub-county