NYAMIRA, KENYA - A 29-year-old single mother of two from Miriri village in Nyamira County has returned to the classroom after an 11-year absence to sit for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. Janet Mariachana’s story of determination sheds light on the broader struggles and resilience of adult learners in a country grappling with high school dropout rates and fluctuating enrolment in continuing education programs.

Mariachana was forced to abandon her studies over a decade ago due to a lack of school fees. Now, she is among the 996,078 candidates registered for this year's KCSE exams, which commenced in October and are scheduled to conclude on Friday, November 21, 2025, according to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). "Life has had its fair share of challenges, but now after giving birth, I thought it would be a good idea to go back to school to get my certificate because right now in Kenya, education is everything," Mariachana stated in a recent interview.

The National Context of Adult Education

Mariachana's journey occurs against a backdrop of declining participation in adult education across Kenya. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), enrolment in adult education centres dropped by 9.5% from 138,628 in 2022 to 125,402 in 2023. Despite this national decrease, women constitute the majority of adult learners, accounting for 63.1% of total enrolment in 2023. This highlights a significant gender dynamic, where women are more likely to seek a second chance at education later in life.

Kenya's Vision 2030 aims for an 80% adult literacy rate, yet challenges such as teacher shortages and inadequate funding persist. While Kenya's adult literacy rate reached 82.88% in 2022, according to the World Bank, significant regional and gender disparities remain. A 2006 survey by KNBS found that 7.8 million Kenyan adults were illiterate, with women and rural populations disproportionately affected.

Barriers to Education in Nyamira and Beyond

Nyamira County, where Mariachana resides, has historically faced challenges with school dropout rates. Studies have identified multiple contributing factors, including poverty, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and lack of school fees as primary reasons for students leaving school prematurely. Research conducted in the region indicates that socio-economic pressures are a significant barrier to completing secondary education. Local leaders have often cited parental neglect and social vices as contributing factors to the high dropout rates.

The Kenyan government established the Department of Adult Education in 1979 and has a policy framework to support adult and continuing education (ACE). Furthermore, a 2020 Ministry of Education policy requires schools to readmit teenage mothers, aiming to reduce a major barrier to girls' education. However, implementation remains a challenge, with financial constraints often preventing young mothers from returning.

For Mariachana, the decision to return involved significant personal sacrifice. She ensures her two children are cared for before she leaves for school each day, often returning in the evening. Her aspiration to become a doctor fuels her determination to overcome these obstacles. Her story serves as a powerful individual example of the drive for self-improvement through education, reflecting a wider societal value placed on academic certification for economic advancement in Kenya.

As the 2025 national examinations continue, involving a total of 3,424,836 candidates across KCSE, KPSEA, and the inaugural KJSEA assessments, Mariachana's participation is a testament to the enduring belief in education as a transformative tool for individuals and their families.