Grade 10 Learning in Jeopardy as Textbooks Remain Unpublished Ahead of 2026 School Year
Kenya’s education system is staring at a major crisis following a warning from the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) about the government’s failure to release funds for the printing and distribution of Grade 10 textbooks.
The delay, according to the publishers, could cause serious learning disruptions for more than one million students expected to transition to Grade 10 in January 2026.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, October 7, KPA Chairman Kiarie Kamau criticized the government for failing to release Ksh 11.4 billion, which was budgeted for the publication of new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) learning materials.
He cautioned that unless the money is urgently disbursed, schools may open without essential textbooks, thereby crippling the smooth rollout of the Grade 10 curriculum.
Kamau revealed that the publishing industry is already struggling to stay afloat due to the government’s delayed payments. He said the crisis has stalled the printing of over seven million copies of textbooks that were supposed to be distributed to schools before the start of the 2026 academic year.
“Since publishers have not received payment for previously supplied materials, we have been unable to pay our service providers,” Kamau stated.
“This has severely disrupted operations in many publishing houses, making it difficult to cover basic running costs such as printing, storage, and staff salaries. Settling this Ksh 11.4 billion debt is therefore not just important—it is absolutely urgent if the books are to be printed and delivered in time.”
The ripple effect of the delayed payment has hit several key players in the education supply chain. Printers are reportedly owed around Ksh 4 billion, while distributors, authors, and even the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have been affected.
Kamau also explained that the distribution process alone would require an additional Ksh 2.5 billion, pushing the total cost of the textbook project to Ksh 11.6 billion.
Subjects and Textbook Costs
The textbooks approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) cover a wide range of subjects, including Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Chemistry, Computer Studies, and General Science.
Other learning areas awaiting publication include Business Studies, History and Citizenship, Biology, Geography, and Community Service Learning.
Each textbook is priced between Ksh 950 and Ksh 1,250, depending on the subject and publisher. Major publishers involved in the project include Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) and Oxford University Press East Africa, among others.
These publishers are now struggling to meet production timelines due to lack of funding, threatening to derail the Ministry of Education’s plans for a smooth transition into Grade 10.
Background and Education Reforms
The textbook crisis comes at a time when the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is still undergoing review and adjustment. In 2023, President William Ruto’s government initiated a restructuring of the curriculum to make learning more focused and manageable for students.
Under the new structure, the number of learning areas in lower primary was reduced from nine to seven, while upper primary subjects were scaled down from ten to eight.
In junior secondary, the subjects were trimmed from fourteen to nine in a bid to reduce the workload on learners and teachers.
Despite these reforms, the publishing sector has become a major source of expenditure for both the government and parents. Each new phase of curriculum implementation requires the production of fresh textbooks, often forcing parents to dig deeper into their pockets.
In 2019, when the CBC system was officially rolled out, publishers produced books for Grade 4 learners across thirteen different learning areas, setting the stage for continuous demand for new materials at every grade level.
Growing Concern Over Future of Learning
Education experts warn that the current standoff between publishers and the government could create a textbook shortage that would severely affect the rollout of the Senior School curriculum.
Without proper learning materials, teachers may be forced to rely on outdated content or improvised notes, which could undermine the quality of education promised under the CBC system.
Publishers are now urging the Treasury and the Ministry of Education to prioritize the settlement of the outstanding payments to avert a nationwide learning crisis.
They have also called for a more predictable funding model that ensures the timely publication and distribution of textbooks ahead of each academic year.
Unless swift action is taken, the Grade 10 class of 2026 could begin the school year without access to approved learning materials, disrupting the academic calendar and jeopardizing Kenya’s ambitious education reform agenda.
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