This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
On Monday, Kenya will join the international community in celebrating International Literacy Day, marked annually on 8 September. The country's progress in education is being recognized, but it also highlights the ongoing challenges in adult literacy.
The Ministry of Education has announced that Cabinet Secretary for Education George Magoha will officiate the event in West Pokot, where celebrations will take place at county and sub-county levels throughout the country.
However, Director of Adult and Continuing Education Irreneous Kinara has expressed concerns that Kenya still lags behind in literacy, despite government efforts. "Kenya has made great strides in ensuring access to education by school-going children, nationally, 22 percent of the adult population still face literacy challenges with the affected being girls and women," Kinara said.
According to UNESCO, Kenya's adult literacy rate stands at 78.73 percent, with a male literacy rate of 83.78 percent and a female literacy rate of 74.01 percent. Kinara noted that pastoral communities in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas (ASAL) are the most disadvantaged, with cultural practices such as early marriages, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and teenage pregnancy hindering their access to education.
The government has implemented programs to provide adult education and give a second chance to those who missed their education due to various challenges. "The Ministry provides adult's education instructors to teach the adult earners functional skills they need to survive in a changing world," Kinara said.
International Literacy Day provides an opportunity for governments, civil society, and stakeholders to reflect on the remaining literacy challenges and highlight improvements in world literacy rates. In 2017, Kenya joined other UNESCO member states in marking the 51st International Literacy Day with a focus on the digital world.
