The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) has reassured parents that textbooks for Grades 5 to 8 will be available by the end of January, following a wave of public concern.
Parents, especially those with children in private schools, have expressed frustration as they await the new textbooks, which are set to replace the previous editions, causing additional financial strain.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, January 7, the KPA Chairperson emphasized that while the new books are being finalized, both teachers and students can continue using the old books until the updated versions are released.
This statement came in response to the announcement by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) last Friday, which revealed that the delivery of the new textbooks for Grades 5 to 8 would be delayed despite schools reopening on Monday.
“The books are currently undergoing corrections at KICD and will be available by the end of January, with some expected to be released in February,” said KPA Chairperson Kamua.
“In the meantime, parents and learners should continue using the textbooks that have already been provided.”
The delay in the availability of textbooks follows a review of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which has been undergoing updates based on feedback from Kenyans.
In 2023, the government of President William Ruto initiated changes to the CBC, reducing the number of learning areas in lower primary from nine to seven, and in upper primary from ten to eight.
Junior secondary subjects were also reduced from fourteen to nine.
This ongoing review of the curriculum and textbooks has caused a recurring financial burden for parents, with each new round of books requiring additional purchases.
When the CBC system was introduced in 2019, Grade 4 books were provided across thirteen learning areas.
The rollout continued in subsequent years, with Grade 5 books released in 2020, Grade 6 in 2021, Grade 7 in 2023, and Grade 8 in 2024.
The current process of “rationalisation” is aimed at aligning textbooks with the newly revised learning areas.
Publishers defended the adjustments, stating that the rationalisation process was guided by the input of Kenyans across all 47 counties who contributed their views to the Presidential Task Force, which led to the development of the new curriculum materials.
KICD has also announced that textbooks for subjects such as Agriculture, Creative Arts and Sports, Integrated Science, Social Studies, and Pre-Technical Studies will be available between now and April.
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