Modelling determinants of adult literacy and numeracy skills in Kenya

Abstract

This study describes the determinants of adult literacy and numeracy skills (ALNS) in Kenya with the aid of a logistic model analysis using the 2007 Kenya National adult literacy survey data. The objectives were:- To investigate the distribution of adult literacy and numeracy skills by agegroups, to establish proportions of adult literacy and numeracy skills by province, regions (rural/urban), marital status, sex, disability and to establish the key determinants of adult literacy and numeracy skills in Kenya. Various logistic regressions of determinants of ALNS were estimated and this took the following dimensions: age-group, gender, region (rural/ urban), disability, marital status, awareness of literacy programmes and reading materials. The results showed that 69.2% of the adult population had attained ALNS thus leaving 30.8% adults illiterate. The results also showed that 17% of the youth aged 15-19 years and 79.7% of adults aged 70+ years were illiterate. The results further indicated high regional disparity in ALNS achievements with urban having 86.6% and rural 69.7%. Nairobi province had 95.J% and North-Eastern province J6.7%. There also exists gender disparity in ALNS levels with men rated at 76.6% and women at 64.1%. Logistic analysis results showed that disability and programme awareness were insignificant while age-group, reading materials, marital status, gender and region were significant. v