Parents, schools asked to confirm authenticity of text books

A Curriculum developer has appealed to head teachers to ensure that books used in schools for the new curriculum, meet requirements.
This follows concerns that some books circulating in the market purported to be for Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), are not approved.
Parents must also confirm that the complimentary textbooks they buy for their children are age appropriate.
“Textbooks are important in curriculum delivery. They must be the right ones to ensure learners are not treated to misleading content,” KICD director, Dr Julius Jwan said in Nairobi.
He observed that some unscrupulous traders might take advantage of the introduction of CBC to sell substandard books.
“We are monitoring the situation, especially those inserting fake imprints on such books. But, all of us must remain vigilant to protect our children,” Dr Jwan said.
He also appealed to those circulating the books to confirm if indeed they are in the local market to avoid causing unnecessary panic.
The origin of some of the books with unapproved content, he revealed, has been established to be as far as Egypt, Ghana and USA.
Dr Jwan said head teachers and parents can refer to the addendum to Orange book for CBC, available on KICD’s website to ascertain the genuine textbooks.
The addendum contains approved books for pre-primary 1 and 2 and Grade 1, 2 and 3.
Last January 2, Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed directed education officers to confirm that only KICD approved are used in schools.
“Ensure that course books and other instructional materials reach all the public primary schools,” the CS said while issuing guidelines on implementation of the new curriculum.
By Denson Mututo/Valencia Nasimiyu