By Njeri Irungu
The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) has reassured parents, teachers, and the general public that Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) textbooks are readily available, with distribution to schools almost complete.
According to KPA, the delivery of Grade 9 textbooks to public schools is in its final stages, aligning with the government’s one-to-one (1:1) textbook policy. Over 80% of these books have already been delivered; the remaining stock is expected to reach schools by January 13, 2025. The textbooks cover various learning areas and are being supplied by different publishers, including Spotlight Publishers, Moran Publishers, Kenya Literature Bureau, and East African Educational Publishers, among others.
For private schools and parents looking to purchase Grade 9 textbooks, KPA has confirmed that the books are already stocked in bookshops. Those who may have difficulty accessing them are encouraged to contact KPA for assistance via +254 724 255 848.
Following recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER), the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) revised the CBC curriculum, leading to a reduction in the number of learning areas. The changes saw the number of subjects decrease from nine to seven in lower primary, ten to eight in upper primary, and fourteen to nine in junior secondary. As part of this restructuring, some subjects were merged to create a more integrated learning approach. Home Science and Agriculture & Nutrition were combined into Agriculture, while Integrated Science and Health Education were merged into Integrated Science. Social Studies was also expanded to include Life Skills, and Computer Science, Business Studies, and Pre-Technical Studies were consolidated into Pre-Technical Studies. Additionally, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Physical Education, and Sports were grouped under Creative Arts and Sports.
To accommodate these curriculum changes, publishers have developed new textbooks, which are currently undergoing final corrections by KICD. The revised books for Grades 5 and 6 are expected to be available by the end of January 2025, while those for Grades 7 and 8 will be released by the end of February 2025.
Despite these adjustments, KPA has assured the public that sufficient textbooks remain available for Creative Arts and Sports, Pre-Technical Studies, and Agriculture. Existing materials in circulation still meet the needs of learners and teachers as the transition to the updated curriculum progresses. Furthermore, KICD has approved books from over fifteen publishers, including Longhorn Publishers, Oxford University Press, Storymoja, Mentor Publishers, and Booklyst, ensuring that learners and educators have a wide variety of quality learning materials to choose from.
Beyond CBC textbooks, KPA has also emphasized the availability of a wide range of books for lifelong learning. Storybooks for children, novellas for junior school, and fiction for senior school students are well-stocked in bookshops across the country.
With these assurances, KPA reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that learners and teachers have uninterrupted access to quality educational materials as the country transitions into the revised CBC curriculum.
