Government has distributed books to all public schools

The Government has distributed Science, Mathematics, and English textbooks to Class Seven and Class Eight pupils.

Early Learning and Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang announces this when he met Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (Seqip) support mission, which comprises Education and World Bank officials, at Jogoo House on Friday.

The officials included Director of Project Coordination and Delivery James Mungai, and World Bank education specialist Ruth Charo.

Dr Kipsang said the textbooks were part of Seqip, which targets 7,852 primary and 2,147 secondary schools in 110 sub-counties in 30 counties in marginalised regions.

The PS said under the project, Class Seven and Eight, as well as Forms One to Four in targeted schools would be given textbooks for core subjects with the objective of reaching a student-textbook ratio of 1:1.

"The Government is implementing the project in conjunction with World Bank and focuses on improving retention of learners in primary education as well as transition to secondary education in arid and semi-arid regions," he said.

The PS said he was satisfied with the book distribution, saying it would help address deficiencies and inequalities hindering teaching and learning in identified regions.

He said part of the project was a scholarship programme to help students complete secondary schools.

Kipsang said the programme would also ensure selected schools had classrooms, science laboratories, libraries, toilets, electricity and running water. "Apart from recruitment and deployment of teachers by TSC to targeted schools, the project will also see the strengthening of national examinations and assessments systems at the Kenya National Examinations Council," Kipsang said.