Grade Nine Textbooks Distribution to Begin Next Month.
Starting next month, junior secondary schools in Molo Sub-County, Nakuru County, will begin receiving Grade Nine textbooks.
The textbook distribution will take place between October 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, covering over 20,000 schools assessed by the Ministry of Education as suitable for hosting Junior Secondary Schools.
This effort is part of a broader government initiative aiming to distribute over 9.6 million textbooks to public primary schools across the country.
The target is to provide textbooks for learners from Grade One to Grade Nine by next year. Dr. Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Basic Education, expressed satisfaction with achieving a 1:1 pupil-textbook ratio.
He noted that Kenya is the first country in East Africa to implement a policy ensuring this ratio for Grade One to Grade Nine learners.
Ensuring Effective Learning Through Adequate Resources
Dr. Kipsang, speaking during an assessment in Nakuru County, emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring every Grade Nine learner receives all nine required textbooks on examinable subjects.
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He noted that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), in collaboration with publishers, has already prepared and printed all necessary instructional materials.
The distribution process will span from October to January 2025. Only KICD-approved books will be used, having undergone rigorous evaluations to meet the curriculum’s standards.
“Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has prepared all the instructional material for Grade Nine learners. We have, together with our publishers, printed all the books that are required. Distribution kicks off in October and ends in January next year,” he added.
Publishers and Book Distribution
Several publishers have been contracted to print and distribute textbooks for Grade 7 and 9, including:
- Oxford University Press
- Kenya Literature Bureau
- East African Educational Publishers
- Longhorn Publishers
- Storymoja Publishers
- Mountain Top Publishers
- Jomo Kenyatta Foundation
- Spotlight Publishers
- Moran Publishers
While public schools will receive the textbooks free of charge, private schools are expected to purchase them from bookshops.
Infrastructure and Classroom Development
To support the expansion of Junior Secondary Schools, the government is constructing 11,000 new classrooms nationwide.
Furthermore, Ksh 3000 allocated to each school will be used for maintenance and desk furnishing.
Assessments and Future Pathways
In July 2024, the Ministry of Education conducted a pilot assessment for Grade 9 learners to help teachers prepare for the upcoming national assessment next year.
Another pilot assessment will be held later this year for Grade 6 learners, simulating their final exams in November 2025.
These pilots are designed to inform the placement of Grade 10 students in January 2026, focusing on STEM, humanities, creative arts, and sports pathways.
Schools will be required to offer at least two pathways, with STEM being mandatory.
Plans for STEM and Laboratory Development
The government will also prioritize constructing laboratories in schools starting January 2025 to prepare for STEM learning.
At present, around 1,600 junior secondary schools lack laboratories. To address this gap, the government plans to introduce virtual labs as a step toward incorporating technology into learning.
School Safety and Review of Regulations
Addressing concerns over school safety, Dr. Kipsang noted that the government plans to review the schools’ safety manual to create a legal framework that includes punitive measures for non-compliance with safety regulations.
This review aims to enhance security and prevent incidents such as school infernos.
Grade Nine Textbooks Distribution to Begin Next Month.
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