Grade 10 learners may miss school in January as MPs demand textbook audit

Grade 9 students recite a poem during the launch of Grade 9 classrooms at Moi Forces Academy in Nairobi on January 30, 2025.[Boniface Okendo, Standard] Grade 10 learners may be unable to open school in January next year after Members of Parliament demanded a thorough audit of the Sh11.3 billion pending bill owed to publishers. The National Assembly's Committee on Education has called for a detailed review of the debt before the government releases any payments, citing discrepancies in the supply and distribution of textbooks to schools. The bill dates back to the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) between 2022 and 2025, when publishers supplied millions of textbooks under contracts coordinated by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD). The Standard has established that the planned audit will further delay the printing and distribution of textbooks to schools. KICD has informed MPs that, due to the outstanding bills, publishers have declined to print or distribute new textbooks, meaning schools will likely reopen without books in January. It emerged that textbook evaluations were conducted in April, with contracts awarded in June. After corrections were made, publishers were given the green light in July to print and distribute the materials. However, this has not happened, as publishers have cited unpaid arrears. The unpaid bills-resulting from delayed government disbursements and lengthy verification processes-have left publishers cash-strapped. They have warned that the production and delivery of Grade 10 books will not proceed unless payments are made. KICD Chief Executive Officer Prof Charles Ong'ondo said the institution has already briefed the Ministry of Education about the financial constraints publishers face. "The books are ready, and publishers are prepared to print and deliver once part of their bills are paid. Our aim is to ensure that by the time schools reopen in January, learning materials for Grade 10 will be available in all schools," said Prof Ong'ondo. Committee Chairperson Julius Meli said the oversight mission aimed to verify how public funds were used in textbook printing and distribution, following complaints of both over- and under-supply in schools. "We want to ensure the pending Sh11 billion bill reflects the actual number of books delivered. There must be an audit to confirm that supplies match enrolment and that value for money is achieved," Meli said. He emphasised that textbook distribution must align with the government's one-to-one book-to-learner ratio, particularly for Grade 10 ahead of the 2026 school year. Publishers have urged the Ministry of Education to settle bills from 2022 to 2025 to allow for the resumption of textbook printing. However, Meli insisted that accountability must come first. During a visit to KICD, the committee assessed CBC implementation, resource management, and inspected the Kenya Education Resource Centre project, which had stalled due to funding shortfalls. Meli praised KICD for using Sh400 million in internally generated funds to keep the project going and said the committee would prioritise its remaining Sh800 million funding in the next budget. He also urged KICD to enhance public sensitisation on the CBC to ensure Kenyans understand the curriculum and its Grade 1 to 10 pathways.

Grade 10 learners may miss school in January as MPs demand textbook audit

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