Identification
Survey ID Number
KEN-KNBS-KNALS-2006
Title
2006 Kenya National Adults Literacy Survey
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Kenya | KEN |
Study type
Sample Frame, Households [sf/hh]
Series Information
The last literacy survey carried out by the Central Bureau of Statistics in 1988 covered only rural areas and the concept of literacy only considered ability to read and write in any language.
Abstract
The Kenya National Adult Literacy Survey was conducted throughout the country between June 8 to August 8, 2006 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Department of Adult Education (DAE). The purpose was to generate accurate and up-to-data on the status of adult literacy with a view of using that information to expand and strengthen literacy programmes, and also plan for general national development. Underlying this is the fact literacy is fundamental to socio-economic development and poverty alleviation. The specific objectives were:
Determine the magnitude, levels and distribution of adult literacy for persons aged 15 and above.
Obtain comprehensive data and information on adult literacy from literacy providers and stakeholders both in the private and public sectors.
Identify issues of concern, which need to be addressed in the promotion of adult literacy.
About 18,000 households were sampled for the survey and out of that, 15,696 were occupied in 4,782 in urban and 10,914 in rural areas. Out of the occupied households, 15,504 were successfully interviewed, which gave a response rate of 98.8 per cent. In addition, eight adult education centers or classes in each district were sampled and their teachers of managers interviewed to generate information on the perspective of the service providers.
The study used various instruments to collect the data. Four questionnaires were developed for the survey and targeted the following: households, individuals, institutions providing literacy, and literacy (assessment) tests. The survey was conducted in English, Kiswahili and 18 other local languages, which provided the respondents with the opportunity to respond in a language that they were quite comfortable with. Significantly, 70 per cent of the respondents took the literacy assessments tests in either English or Kiswahili. To arrive at the adult literacy levels, two methods were used: self reporting (one's ability to read and write) and actual testing (assessment of literacy skills) of the population.
Unlike previous surveys that relied on self confessions, this time round, tests were administered to examine the respondents' mastery levels in literacy and numeracy.
The competency levels in either literacy or numeracy were graded on a scale of one to five, with those who attained
Levels Four and Five being considered as having the desirable levels of mastery of the skills. Those who attained Levels
Three, Four and Five were considered to have attained the minimum mastery level.
Determine the magnitude, levels and distribution of adult literacy for persons aged 15 and above.
Obtain comprehensive data and information on adult literacy from literacy providers and stakeholders both in the private and public sectors.
Identify issues of concern, which need to be addressed in the promotion of adult literacy.
About 18,000 households were sampled for the survey and out of that, 15,696 were occupied in 4,782 in urban and 10,914 in rural areas. Out of the occupied households, 15,504 were successfully interviewed, which gave a response rate of 98.8 per cent. In addition, eight adult education centers or classes in each district were sampled and their teachers of managers interviewed to generate information on the perspective of the service providers.
The study used various instruments to collect the data. Four questionnaires were developed for the survey and targeted the following: households, individuals, institutions providing literacy, and literacy (assessment) tests. The survey was conducted in English, Kiswahili and 18 other local languages, which provided the respondents with the opportunity to respond in a language that they were quite comfortable with. Significantly, 70 per cent of the respondents took the literacy assessments tests in either English or Kiswahili. To arrive at the adult literacy levels, two methods were used: self reporting (one's ability to read and write) and actual testing (assessment of literacy skills) of the population.
Unlike previous surveys that relied on self confessions, this time round, tests were administered to examine the respondents' mastery levels in literacy and numeracy.
The competency levels in either literacy or numeracy were graded on a scale of one to five, with those who attained
Levels Four and Five being considered as having the desirable levels of mastery of the skills. Those who attained Levels
Three, Four and Five were considered to have attained the minimum mastery level.
Kind of Data
Sample survey data [ssd]
Unit of Analysis
population residing in households across the country
Version
Version Date
2013
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
The sample for the KNALS covered the population residing in households across the country
Universe
All members of the household selected aged 15 years and above were eligible for inclusion in the literacy survey. However, only one eligible
member from each household was selected during the administration of individual questionnaire and test items.
member from each household was selected during the administration of individual questionnaire and test items.
Producers and sponsors
Primary investigators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Kenya National Bureau of Statistics | Ministry of Planning and National Development |
| Department of Adult Education | Ministry of Education |
Funding Agency/Sponsor
| Name | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Government of Kenya | GOK |
| Minnistry of Education | Moe |
| Canadian International Development Agency | CIDA |
| Department for International Development | DFID |
| United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization | UNESCO |
Sampling
Sampling Procedure
A probability sample of about 18,000 households was selected for the survey to allow for separate estimates for key indicators for each of the provinces and districts in the country and for urban and rural areas separately.
The survey utilised a two-stage sample design. The first stage involved selecting clusters from the national master sample maintained by KNBS.A total of 1,200 clusters comprising 377 urban and 823 rural were selected from this master frame.
The second stage of selection involved the systematic sampling of households from a list of all households. Fifteen households were sampled from each of the sampled clusters. The household listing was updated recently while preparing for the Kenya Integrated and Household Budget Survey (KIHBS). Selection of clusters and households for the survey was done by KNBS experts in Nairobi and the sample lists were given to survey supervisors. All members of the household selected aged 15 years and above were eligible for inclusion in the literacy survey.
The survey utilised a two-stage sample design. The first stage involved selecting clusters from the national master sample maintained by KNBS.A total of 1,200 clusters comprising 377 urban and 823 rural were selected from this master frame.
The second stage of selection involved the systematic sampling of households from a list of all households. Fifteen households were sampled from each of the sampled clusters. The household listing was updated recently while preparing for the Kenya Integrated and Household Budget Survey (KIHBS). Selection of clusters and households for the survey was done by KNBS experts in Nairobi and the sample lists were given to survey supervisors. All members of the household selected aged 15 years and above were eligible for inclusion in the literacy survey.
Response Rate
A total of 17,892 households were sampled of which 15,695 (4,781 urban and 10,914 rural) were occupied at the time of the survey and therefore eligible for interviews. Some of the sampled households could not be accessed because they were no longer inhabited thus contributing to a large extent to the recorded shortfall. Out of a total of 15,695households occupied at the time of the survey, 15,504 were successfully interviewed yielding a response rate of 98.8 per cent. Rural households realized a 99.7 per cent response rate compared to a response rate of 96.6 per cent in urban areas. Members of households aged 15 years and above were eligible for the individual interviews. Of the total 15,695 respondents identified, 15,473 were successfully interviewed, giving an individual response rate of 98.6 per cent. Response rates are higher in rural areas compared to the response rates in urban areas. Response rates for the literacy assessment test were lower than those for the individual interviews. Out of15, 695 eligible respondents, 14,761 took the literacy test giving a response rate of94.0 per cent (91.3 per cent urban and 95.3 per cent rural)
Data Collection
Dates of Data Collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2006-06-08 | 2006-08-08 |
Data Collection Mode
Face-to-face [f2f]
Questionnaires
Questionnaires
These included: a household questionnaire, an individual questionnaire, a literacy assessment instrument and an institutional questionnaire.
Access policy
Access authority
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya National Bureau of Statistics | Ministry of Planning National Development and Vision 2030 | directorgeneral@knbs.or.ke | www.knbs.or.ke |
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | URL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director General | Kenya National Bureau of Statistics | directorgeneral@knbs.or.ke | www.knbs.or.ke |
Confidentiality
Before being granted access to the dataset, all users have to formally agree:
1. To make no copies of any files or portions of files to which s/he is granted access except those authorized by the data depositor.
2. Not to use any technique in an attempt to learn the identity of any person, establishment, or sampling unit not identified on public use data files.
3. To hold in strictest confidence the identification of any establishment or individual that may be inadvertently revealed in any documents or discussion, or analysis. Such inadvertent identification revealed in her/his analysis will be immediately brought to the attention of the data depositor.
Disclaimer and copyrights
Disclaimer
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
Copyright
(c) 2006, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
Metadata production
DDI Document ID
DDI-KEN-KNBS-KNALS-2006
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya National Bureau of Statistics | KNBS | Ministry of Planning National Development and Vision 2030 | Data Collection and Documentation of Survey |
Date of Metadata Production
2006-03-22
DDI Document version
Version 1 (March 2006)