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Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chief Executive Officer Prof Charles Ong’ondo said the replacement programme was informed by findings from a Ministry of Education report and a World Bank study, both of which highlighted the condition of existing textbooks and the need to update their content.
Data from the Ministry of Education shows that more than 330 cases of student unrest have been reported since April, among them 95 school fires and dozens of attempted arson incidents. The violence claimed the lives of 18 learners, making the period one of the deadliest school terms in recent years.
About 1.2 million Grade 9 learners, who make up the second cohort under CBE, are expected to use the ministry's automated placement system to select their career pathways, subject combinations and preferred senior schools.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Chief Executive Prof Charles Ong’ondo said the difficulties stemmed from differences between projected learner numbers used to prepare textbooks and the actual enrolment figures later submitted by schools.
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) says many of the materials being sold as CBE support resources have never undergone official review and approval, despite being aggressively marketed to schools across the country.
The planned promotions come at a time when concerns over delayed career progression have dominated discussions within the teaching profession, with teachers and school administrators calling for more opportunities to move to higher grades.
Addressing principals during the 49th Kenya Senior School Heads Association annual national conference in Mombasa, TSC CEO Mitei said disparities in teacher allocation remain a major challenge, with some schools having more tutors than they need while others operate without enough teaching staff.
Dr Abdi said 95 of the reported cases involved fire incidents, while 34 were linked to attempted arson attacks.
Under the new arrangement, learners will be awarded the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) together with a vocational or professional certificate linked to the Kenya National Qualifications Framework.