The Social Economic Impact of Adult Education and Continuing Education Programme to the Community: A Case Study in Bahari Division, in Kilifi District, Coast Province, Kenya.

ABSTRACT The study of The Socio-economic Impact of Adult Education was conducted with the aim of identifying and evaluating various objectives acquired by the department of ACE under the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture and Social Services. These objectives, such as eradication of illiteracy in the country, promotion of cultural heritage, encouraging learning as a life long process and alleviating poverty, were some of the factors that were used to determine the consequences of Adult Education to the members ofBahari Division, Kilifi District. The study was conducted using research tools such as questionnaires and interviews which were both formal and infom1al. Data processing and analysis was done with the help of tables and frequencies. A portion of the population was used from the target population. Some of the findings were the benefits of ACE both socially and economically, the wide gender gap where women participate more than men, level of awareness when mobilizing community members about the programme, the challenges experienced by the learners teachers and managers as well as a view on the roles of the ACE managers teachers and the overall supporters and providers of the programme. From the study, some of the recommendations the researcher proposed were that the government of Kenya should come up with measures that could encourage more commm1ity members to actively participate and be self motivated to help decrease illiteracy. More interest should be built on stabilizing learning structures and creative conducive environment for the sake of the learners and the teachers. A lot of effort should be put by the ACE managers, teachers as well as the local council authorities to reduce stigmatization in the community that may slow down the process of eradicating illiteracy around the area.