Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has launched a distribution exercise of textbooks for Grade 9, and those for rationalized learning areas for Grades 1 to 6 to all Kenyan schools in the ministry’s effort to maintain the one-to-one textbook-to-learner ratio policy.
Speaking during the launch at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) on Wednesday the CS said the Government is committed to ensuring that all learners have adequate teaching and learning materials.
The materials comprised of a learner´s Book and the accompanying Teacher´s Guide. The KICD evaluated course materials in April 2024.
The ministry gives two books from different publishers and it had contracted eighteen publishers to come up with the grade 9 textbooks.
“I also reiterate the expectation that both public and private schools should use only the books that have been approved by KICD,” the CS said.
He noted that after the review of the curriculum early this year, the Ministry of Education embarked on the revision of books to ensure they are well aligned with the curriculum designs.
PS Dr. Belio Kipsang noted that the ministry is committed to the provision of quality and relevant inclusive education, training, and research to all Kenyans.
KICD Council Chairperson Simon Gicharu said the books met the set curricula goals, standards of relevance, accuracy, quality and inclusivity.
YOU MAY ALSO READ:
Crisis afoot as TSC receives over 300,000 applications for 46,000 JSS jobs
He noted that they will aid in the process of nurturing the learners’ potential and building an ethical society
Prof. Charles Ochieng’ Ong’ondo CEO of KICD said the learning materials are in line with recommendations by the Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER)
The materials will support in teaching-learning context, assist the learners to acquire the intended knowledge, skills and attitudes and thereby develop the required competencies.
In total, the Ministry of Education is procuring a total of 1,000,000 copies of Learner´s Books and 24,000 copies of Teacher´s Guides for each learning area in Grade 9.
The distribution schedule stretches from 23rd January to 3rd March 2025. Schools that may have variances in the number of books delivered to them should report to the Sub County Education office.
The Sub County Education offices should also move in to rationalize any variances in the schools within the Sub County. The Sub County offices are expected to file reports with the Ministry of Education on the status of book distribution by January 31st, 2025 in schools within their areas of jurisdiction.
The books have been assessed for suitability to help the teacher deliver the curriculum as envisaged. The listing of approved materials and all curriculum designs for all the learning areas/subjects up to Grade 9 are available on the KICD website.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has also had an engagement with stakeholders pertaining to the Grade 10 curriculum designs. Upon the finalization of the designs, the Ministry will ensure relevant books are developed, evaluated for approval and fine-tuned in preparation for use in our schools in an efficient and timely manner.
By Obegi Malack
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
