This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
As the rollout of grade four in the next two months gains momentum, the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is expected to improve the quality of education in Kenya.
According to the Ministry of Education, the distribution of grade four CBC-aligned government-procured textbooks to over 22,000 public primary schools across the country commenced last month and is expected to be finalized by the end of November.
Following a directive by the Ministry of Education to the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and publishers, the distribution of Grade 4 textbooks should not be delayed.
During a meeting held at KICD, Deputy Director-Primary Education at the Ministry of Education, Ms Nereah Olick, stated that a list of enrollment numbers of learners per school prepared by the ministry had been shared with the publishers.
The list will help determine the number of books that should be given to each school, ensuring that schools do not end up with excess or less books.
Ms Olick assured the publishers that the Ministry supports the exercise and challenged them to freely share any challenges they experience on the ground, saying the lessons learnt will help streamline the process.
She warned that there will be no extension of the exercise and warned publishers who shall not comply with the strict deadline for distributing the books risk having their contract cancelled.
The publishers and distributors will have to first contact sub-county education officers at their respective jurisdictions before moving out to deliver the books in schools.
A list of the approved books has been made public to ensure parents and teachers are well guided.
Kenya Publishers Association Chairman, Mr. Lawrence Njagi, has assured Kenyans that the books will be delivered as required and publishers are already working round the clock to ensure the distribution process remains above board.
Mr. Njagi also asked publishers to adhere to their contractual obligations with the government and ensure that only high-quality Grade 4 textbooks that were approved for distribution end up in schools.
‘We don’t want short-cuts or any sideshows that could derail the process. The approved books must be available in schools and bookshops in time so that unscrupulous traders don’t take advantage of a shortage to dupe parents into buying wrong books,’ Mr. Njagi said.
