Clear Sh7bn books debt to avert Grade 11 crisis

School heads are alarmed over a delay in the printing of the Grade 11 textbooks, which is bound to adversely affect learners in this crucial competency-based education (CBE) transition early next year.

As the pioneer CBE Grade 10 learners transition to Grade 11 in January, they might be without these essential learning materials. The printing and distribution of the textbooks is hanging in the balance over a Sh7 billion debt the government owes publishers for past supplies.

It will be a repeat of the crisis early this year when textbook shortages and delays disrupted the beginning of Grade 10 in the progression from junior to senior school. It is quite disturbing that the publishers contracted have not begun the job with just a few months to go, citing their unpaid bills.

While the publishers have every right to demand their payments, as this is a business in which they incur costs and expect a return on their investment, the standoff should be quickly resolved in the learners’ interest.

Students need books and other materials for effective instruction by their teachers for their development. Learners should not suffer due to book shortages after their parents have denied themselves in order to pay their school fees. The Grade 10 rollout was hampered by shortages of teaching and learning materials, some of them well into the second term. This is urgent as the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) often begins distributing books to schools in August or September in readiness for the beginning of the academic year.

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers and publishers have warned about a shrinking window as printing and distributing seven million copies of books requires at least 90 days. Printing takes 60 days while distribution takes 30 days.

The government, which released Sh2 billion last week to pay publishers, should do everything possible to avoid a last-minute rush before the beginning of the next academic year.

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