Kenya Publishers Association confirms availability of CBC textbooks
The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) has provided crucial updates on the availability of textbooks for Grade 9 learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), reassuring parents, teachers, and the public that the materials are readily accessible. In an official statement delivered at the United Country Club in Nairobi, KPA Chairperson Kiarie Kamau confirmed that textbooks for Grade 9 are being distributed across public schools, in line with the government’s commitment to providing a one-to-one textbook ratio for learners
“As of now, over 80 percent of the required textbooks for Grade 9 learners have been delivered to schools across the country. The remaining books are set to be distributed by January 13, 2025, ensuring full availability in time for the new academic term” Kamau clarifies.
This distribution covers various subjests with different publishers taking responsibility for specific learning areas:
Pre-technical Studies: 60 percent by Spotlight Publishers, 40 percent by Distinction Publishers
Agriculture: 60 percent by Mountain Top Publishers, 40 percent by One Planet Publishers
English: 60 percent by Moran Publishers, 40 percent by Booklyst Publishers
Mathematics: 60 percent by Booklyst Publishers, 40 percent by Mentor Publishers
CRE (Christian Religious Education): 60 percent by Hummingbird Publishers, 40 percent by Mountain Top Educational Publishers
Integrated Science: 60 percent by Spotlight Publishers, 40 percent by Highland Publishers
Kiswahili: 60 percent by Kenya Literature Bureau, 40 percent by Access Publishers
Creative Arts: 60 percent by Hummingbird Publishers, 40 percent by One Planet Publishers
IRE (Islamic Religious Education): 60 percent by Kenya Literature Bureau, 40 percent by Atfaal Publishers
Social Studies: 60 percent by Mountain Top Educational Publishers, 40 percent by East African Educational Publishers
The textbooks are being provided by both local and international publishers, ensuring a wide range of resources to choose from.
For the open market, primarily serving private schools, the Grade 9 textbooks are already available in bookstores. KPA also reassured parents and teachers that, in case of any difficulty in finding specific books, they can contact the association for guidance on where to access the textbooks.
In response to the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER), KPA clarified significant changes to the curriculum structure. As part of an effort to streamline the education system, the number of learning areas has been reduced, especially for junior secondary education. Specifically, subjects such as Social Studies, Life Skills Education, and Agriculture have undergone mergers. Here’s a breakdown of the rationalisation:
Social Studies and Life Skills Education have been merged into one subject, Social Studies.
Integrated Science and Health Education have been consolidated into Integrated Science.
Computer Studies, Business Studies, and Pre-Technical Studies have been merged into one subject, Pre-Technical Studies.
Agriculture and Nutrition have been combined into Agriculture.
Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Physical Education have been integrated into Creative Arts and Sports.
KPA emphasized that while new textbooks are under development to reflect these changes, existing textbooks produced prior to the rationalisation, remain available and fully meet the educational needs of learners in Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8. These materials will continue to be used in schools as the country transitions to the new curriculum framework.
The KPA also announced that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has approved textbooks from a diverse list of more than fifteen publishers for Grade 9 and other learning areas. These approved publishers include:
Access Publishers, Bookmark Africa, Longhorn Publishers, Spotlight Publishers, East African Educational Publishers, One Planet, Storymoja, Oxford University Press, Distinction Publishers, Mentor Publishers, Mountain Top Educational Publishers, Moran Publishers, Hummingbird Publishers, Booklyst Publishers, Doritex, Atfaal Publishers, Astute Publishers, Highlands Publishers, Spearsharp Publishers, and Kenya Literature Bureau.
This broad range of publishers ensures that learners and educators have access to a wealth of resources, with various options to choose from in all subjects.
Beyond the Grade 9 CBC textbooks, KPA also highlighted the availability of other educational materials that support lifelong learning. These include storybooks for young children, novellas for junior school students, and fiction for senior students. All these resources are available in bookshops and provide additional opportunities for students to enhance their knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking skills outside of the formal curriculum.
KPA’s clarification on the availability of CBC textbooks and other learning materials serves to reassure the public that resources for effective learning are accessible. The association aims to ensure that both public and private school learners have the necessary tools to succeed under the updated CBC framework.
As Kenya transitions to the revised and streamlined CBC, KPA remains committed to ensuring the availability of quality educational materials to support teachers and learners. With the ongoing distribution of Grade 9 textbooks and the upcoming release of new curriculum-based materials, the future of education in Kenya appears promising as the country continues to evolve its approach to learning.
KPA’s efforts to update the public on the status of CBC textbooks and curriculum changes highlight the association’s commitment to supporting both the education sector and the national goal of providing quality education for all.