The curriculum developer has appealed to teachers and parents to ensure that books learners use meet quality standards. This follows concerns that some books circulating in the market are not approved for teaching and learning. Parents must also confirm that the complementary textbooks they buy for their children are age appropriate.
“Textbooks are important in curriculum delivery. They must be the right ones to ensure learners are not treated to misleading content,” KICD CEO, Dr Julius Jwan said in Nairobi.
The CEO cited a textbook titled, ‘Blood ties’ by Storymoja Publishers, which has been circulating in the market saying, it is not listed in the Orange book. The Orange book contains the list of all the approved books for learners in various classes.
Dr Jwan observed that some unscrupulous traders might take advantage of introduction of the Competency Based Curriculum to associate substandard books with the new system of education.
“Teachers should ensure the books they advise parents to buy for their children meet the quality threshold. It is not about the cover of a book but what is in the pages,” Dr Jwan said.
Some of the unscrupulous publishers are inserting fake imprints on such books to dupe unsuspecting buyers that they are approved.
“We are monitoring the situation. But, all of us have a duty to be vigilant to protect our children, from inappropriate content” Dr Jwan said.
He also appealed to members of the public to confirm if the content they come across is from books in the Kenyan market before sharing further, to avoid causing unnecessary panic.
The origin of some of the books with unapproved content, he revealed, has been established to be as far as South Africa, Egypt, Ghana and USA.
Dr Jwan said head teachers and parents are required to refer to the Orange book to ascertain genuine textbooks.
Ends…..
Notes:
On KICD social media platforms, it has been clarified that KICD has not approved the textbook
titled, ‘Blood ties’ by Storymoja Publishers, which has been circulating. It is not listed in the
Orange book for CBC.
