Counterfeit Textbooks Seized in Nairobi Raid; Booksellers Arrested.
Two individuals have been apprehended in Nairobi after a police operation targeting bookshops selling counterfeit textbooks.
The raid, conducted in collaboration with the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA), resulted in the confiscation of numerous fake textbooks.
Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement officers raided several bookshops suspected of duping customers with counterfeit learning materials.
KPA’s CEO, James Odhiambo, shared that police had seized multiple cartons of fake books and expressed hope that such operations would eventually eliminate sellers of counterfeit materials.
The latest arrests follow the apprehension of five other suspects in Nairobi last week, all tied to the illicit trade in counterfeit educational materials.
This illegal practice has significantly impacted legitimate businesses selling authentic textbooks endorsed by the KPA.
East African Educational Publishers CEO, Kiarie Kamau, stated that the association had intensified efforts to raise awareness among parents, teachers, learners, and the general public about the dangers of pirated books.
These counterfeit copies are often riddled with errors and misaligned pages, posing a risk to education quality.
Delays in CBC Textbook Availability
In a related development, the Kenya Publishers Association has announced delays in the availability of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) textbooks for Grades 5 through 8.
The delays are attributed to recommendations from the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, which has called for rationalizing subjects to enhance efficiency, reduce curriculum overload, and eliminate redundancies.
Read Also: 85% of Public Primary Schools Have Received Grade 9 Textbooks, Says KPA Chairman
Kamau explained that new books aligned with these reforms were undergoing final corrections and approvals by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). Once these adjustments are completed, publishers will proceed with printing the revised textbooks.
As part of the curriculum revisions, pre-primary education will now focus on five learning areas, while lower primary (Grades 1-3) will see a reduction in subjects from nine to seven.
These changes aim to create a more efficient and streamlined learning experience for students, aligning with the broader goals of the education reform agenda.
Counterfeit Textbooks Seized in Nairobi Raid; Booksellers Arrested.
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