Kenya Adult Education

At the end of last year, we met with a group of 20 wonderful, intelligent Maasai women from the Sand River Corridor Area, who were joining our beekeeping project, but out of the 20 women present, only two reported they could read and write.

In this area, just outside the Maasai Mara in Narok County, there is a huge demand for adult literacy and numeracy education amongst the Maasai people who live here, especially women who were often not prioritised to go to school.

According to the latest UNESCO statistics, across Sub-Saharan Africa, the average adult literacy rate (15+ years) was 66% (59.5% Female, 72.7% Male) in 2020. In comparison, the global average at the time was 89%.

The most recent data for Kenya from 2018 puts its adult literacy rate at 81.5% (78.1% Female, 84.9% Male) and its youth literacy rate (15-24 years) at 88% (88% Female, 87.5% Male) – which is much more gender equal – see UIS for more.

However,  there are, of course, lots of national and regional differences. Literacy rates in rural areas, like the Sand River Area in Narok County and others we often visit on safari, are usually considerably lower. Narok County’s whole population (all ages)’s average literacy level was 53% (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2011), but in 2014 the Kenya Inter Rapid Assessment recorded that the adult (25-64) literacy rate was only 41.4%.

We, and our volunteers on the ground, received a number of requests from people asking for adult education support in this area. So in response, with your help, we have started a one-year pilot Adult Education Program in Olpalaglagi Village.

You have helped us to employ three local teachers to teach Kenyan Ministry of Education approved adult literacy and numeracy courses to anyone who wants to attend.

Currently, 83 people are attending the courses. The classes are happening at the Olpalagilagi church hall, which they kindly opened up for use. It has now been kitted out with blackboards and other learning materials, and the students and teachers have decided to have classes there four days per week.

We are already seeing their progress on weekly tests, and we look forward to their continued success. Thank you so much for supporting them!