Kenya’s Adult Education Set for Major Overhaul as CBE Alignment Targets 124K Learners: Mutua Leads National Revival

In a bold move set to reshape the future of adult education in Kenya, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has announced plans to revamp the adult education curriculum, aligning it with the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.  

Labour Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua revealed the transformation during a consultative meeting held on Wednesday, July 16, with officials from the Directorate of Adult Learning and Education. 

The restructuring aims to equip adult learners with practical, job-ready skills tailored for today’s rapidly evolving workforce. Dr. Mutua emphasized that the shift to CBE would empower learners to thrive with dignity, productivity, and purpose in a competitive job market. 

“As a Ministry, we are fully committed to revitalising adult learning as a transformative force in our society. This is part of our broader agenda to build a fair and empowered nation where every Kenyan, regardless of age, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive with dignity,” said Mutua. 

The Directorate of Adult Learning and Education recently transitioned from the Ministry of Education to fall under Mutua’s Labour docket, a move that signals a stronger integration between education and employment priorities. 

According to the ministry, over 124,000 adult learners are currently enrolled in education centres across Kenya. These learners, many of whom missed out on formal education earlier in life, stand to benefit directly from a modernized, skills-driven curriculum that reflects both national and global labour demands. 

Dr. Mutua reiterated the government’s commitment to increase the number of adult education instructors and officers across the country. Infrastructural improvements and budgetary boosts are also part of the comprehensive overhaul. 

However, he was quick to acknowledge the uphill battle ahead. 

“The sector continues to face major challenges, including inadequate staffing, outdated curricula, limited funding, societal stigma, and underutilised training centres. Compounding these issues is the lack of up-to-date data, with the last national adult literacy survey conducted as far back as 2006,” Mutua noted. 

The announcement comes just days after a strong endorsement from the National Assembly’s Education Committee in support of the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bill seeks to formally recognize and regulate Alternative Provision for Basic Education and Training (APBET) schools. 

These institutions, including night schools, vocational training centres, non-formal education centres, home schools, and adult learning institutions, cater to learners often excluded from the mainstream system, such as those in informal settlements and remote regions. 

Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch, who sponsored the bill, said it was designed to anchor an existing but previously informal policy, the Policy Framework for Alternative Provisions for Basic Education and Training. 

“The purpose for which this Bill was made was, first, to anchor an already existing policy,” Oluoch explained during the presentation on July 10. 

Once passed, the bill will mandate the government to map and register all APBET institutions, develop curriculum guidelines, and ensure adequate funding and staffing, giving adult education and alternative learning a solid legal foundation. 

With curriculum restructuring, policy reforms, and a renewed commitment from both Parliament and the executive, adult education in Kenya is experiencing a renaissance.  

The move toward Competency-Based Education is not just about textbooks and exams, it’s about dignity, skills, and opportunity for over 124,000 Kenyans striving to rewrite their stories.