Determinants influencing implementation of adult basic education programme in Kamukunji District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the factors influencing effective implementation of adult basic education (ABE) programme in Kamukunji district, Nairobi County, Kenya. Four research questions were formulated which included teaching and learning resources, professional and academic qualifications of ABE facilitators, socio-cultural factors and supervision and monitoring. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to establish the determinants influencing effective implementation of ABE programme. The study targeted all the 17 ABE centre managers, all the 61 ABE facilitators where census survey was used and 1960 ABE learners out of which 196 learners were sampled using systematic random sampling. Questionnaires were used as instruments of data collection.

Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics supported by tables, frequency distributions and percentages. To test validity, the draft questionnaires were tested to ascertain the appropriateness of items in obtaining information to minimize potential percentage of errors when carrying out the research. To determine reliability of instruments, a prior test was carried out for each questionnaire during piloting .The piloted questionnaires were then scored manually and then subjected to computing using Statistical Package for Social Services in order to prove its reliability. The Beta Coefficients in the regression showed that teaching and learning resources, academic and professional qualifications, social and cultural factors showed positive relationship with effective implementation of ABE.

Conclusions for the study indicated that physical facilities were inadequate; majority of ABE facilitators had undergone professional training and were able to manage adult literacy classes. The study also revealed that social cultural factors affected implementation of ABE. The findings on monitoring and supervision indicated that most of the centers had not been visited in the recent times for assessment of the facilities and service provision. The study thus concluded that effective implementation of Adult basic education programme was hampered by inadequate teaching and learning resources in the Kamukunji district. The study recommended that for ABE programmes to be effectively implemented, facilitators must undergo professional training. The Department of Adult Basic Education should intensify inspection and monitoring services to ensure that the programme is effectively implemented in all the ABE centers.