Nationwide Shortage of Textbooks Hits Primary and Junior Secondary as Schools Reopen.
Parents and bookshop owners across the country have reported a severe shortage of core textbooks for primary and junior secondary schools, which is expected to disrupt learning as schools reopen today.
The issue predominantly affects recently reorganised and consolidated subjects, alongside new books for Grade 9, which are being introduced in schools this term.
The government acknowledged that the distribution of free textbooks to public schools remains incomplete. The rationalisation of content has rendered older textbooks obsolete, leaving parents and teachers scrambling for the updated materials.
Mohamed Ali, chairperson of the Coast and North Eastern Booksellers Association and proprietor of Eden Bookshop in Mombasa, expressed concerns about the significant challenges posed by the transition to new textbooks.
He explained that bookshops are burdened with unsellable old stock worth millions of shillings and anticipated that the shortage could persist until the end of January.
Join Teachers Updates on Facebook
He noted that while textbooks for Grades 1 to 4 are sporadically available, accessing books for Grades 5 to 9 has been particularly challenging. Ali emphasised that the rush to implement the changes has adversely affected publishers, bookshops, parents, and schools alike.
Frustrated Parents Speak Out
Parents have voiced their frustrations over the unavailability of books. Abdulrahman Abdallah, a resident of Old Town, Mombasa, said he had scoured the city in search of books but found very few. He urged the Ministry of Education to improve communication regarding the availability of the textbooks.
Similarly, Irene Isasi, another parent, shared her struggles, stating that she began her search for textbooks in December but had only managed to find three for her Grade 8 child, with none available for Grade 5.
She lamented the time and money wasted in daily searches and called on the Ministry of Education to address the situation urgently.
The Mt Kenya region has also reported significant shortages of primary school textbooks. Bookshop operators in the area revealed that they had received only 60 percent of their required stock.
Khilan Shah, director of Kimji Devshi Bookshop in Nyeri, pointed out that the shortage was particularly acute for pupils in PP1 to Grade 4 and attributed the issue to publishers contracted by the government.
In Laikipia County, bookshop owners in Nanyuki indicated they had sufficient stock for Grade 9 textbooks but faced difficulties in obtaining books for Grades 1 to 6.
Stakeholders Demand Better Planning
The Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Joe Nyutu, acknowledged that some textbooks were still inaccessible as of Sunday. He attributed the shortage to the government’s lack of proper policy and urged authorities to allow parents more time to purchase Grade 9 books.
Meanwhile, parents like Elizabeth Soliyo in Murang’a reported visiting major bookshops in search of textbooks, only to find many titles unavailable.
Read Also: Schools Reopen Amid Shortage of Classrooms, Teachers, and Funds
The recurring frustrations highlight the need for improved coordination and planning to ensure all stakeholders have access to essential learning materials.
Nationwide Shortage of Textbooks Hits Primary and Junior Secondary as Schools Reopen.
Follow Teachers Updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram. Get in touch with our editors at hello@teachersupdates.news.
