The government has successfully distributed 9.9 million textbooks to public primary schools nationwide, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has announced.
Speaking during a media briefing, Kipsang confirmed that all schools, including those that initially missed out, have now received the necessary learning materials.
“Any school that has not received books is not because they were unavailable. It is because, perhaps, the school was closed on the delivery day, and there was no one to receive them. However, the books have been printed and delivered,” he explained.
The PS reiterated the government’s commitment to providing adequate teaching and learning resources for all students. “We have ensured a distribution ratio of 1:1—one book for every learner in the nine learning areas,” he added.
Annual Textbook Distribution
The textbook distribution initiative has been a key feature of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) implementation. In October 2024, the Ministry of Education launched the distribution of Grade 9 textbooks, aiming to enhance teaching and learning under the CBC framework.
Education CS Julius Ogamba noted that the Ministry had procured 1,000,000 learner’s books and 24,000 teacher’s guides for each learning area in Grade 9. Sub-county offices are expected to submit distribution status reports to the Ministry by January 31, 2025.
Teacher Deployment Updates
PS Kipsang also announced updates on teacher deployment, stating that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has made significant strides in addressing teacher shortages.
“This morning, I spoke with the chair of the TSC, who confirmed that posting instructions have been issued to 20,000 interns, 46,000 teachers converted to permanent and pensionable terms, and an additional 10,000 teachers who were upgraded,” Kipsang said.
He emphasized that over 80,000 teachers are now available to teach junior secondary schools, but acknowledged a continuing shortfall. “We still face a shortage as we have not yet reached the required number of teachers,” he noted.
The government’s ongoing efforts aim to ensure the successful implementation of the CBC and improve the quality of education across the country.
