Assessment of the Implementation of Adult Education in Tanzania: A Critical Review of Challenges

The government of Tanzania has made various efforts to ensure the effective implementation of adult education; however, the status of adult education provision remains low. This is due to the different challenges the program encounters, as well as the challenges adult learners face. Thus, this study reviews the challenges facing the implementation of adult education, specifically in Tanzania. The study adopted systematic literature review procedures that allowed the researcher to review different kinds of literature related to the challenges facing adult learners in their learning process. The study was guided by lifelong learning theories. From the critical review of the literature, the study found that there are different challenges facing the implementation of adult education; these challenges are grouped into internal and external challenges. Internal challenges include different aspects recognised, including language barrier, contextual misinterpretation of the term adult education, time balancing between learning and doing other activities, lack of computer skills for the adult learner, the lack of enough knowledge and skills on how to pursue their learning, negative attitude towards adult education and the domestic workload. In the external challenges, different aspects were identified including; shortage of time for studies, family problems, time, family problems, balancing of the family responsibilities and the learning process among the adult learner, inadequate funds, economic, social, and political factors, absence of the effective and good internet service, delayed feedback, and insufficient of study materials, inadequate infrastructures, and facilities, absence of enough and competent adult education facilitators. The study recommended that the government should make clear the aim of adult education and its mandate to society in order to alleviate the misconception about the provision of adult education