For CBE to succeed, establish extensive reading in schools

Kakamega Little Lillies school students showcase their skills during school career day on April 2, 2025. This is aligned with government CBC curriculum which aims to identify students carriers while they are still in school.[Benjamin Sakwa/ Standard]

A few months ago, I organised a series of workshops in Kakamega County to confront a crisis that has long gone unattended: the lack of a strong culture of reading in our schools. I brought together language teachers from across the sub-counties to reflect on how to establish an extensive reading programme.

My motivation was simple but sobering. Most students complete secondary school having only read the prescribed set books, rarely venturing beyond examination texts. Their vocabulary, imagination and critical thinking remain stunted. If the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) is to succeed, this culture must change.