NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Education has issued Letters of Award to publishers whose Grade 11 textbooks were approved under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum, paving the way for large-scale production and nationwide distribution.
In a statement, the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) said the approvals mark a key milestone, allowing the government to proceed with formal contracts and enabling publishers to begin printing.
“KPA expresses its sincere appreciation to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Julius Migos Ogamba, and the Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education, Julius Bitok, for facilitating the release of these critical award letters,” the statement read.
The association confirmed that preparatory work is already underway, with printing expected to begin in May 2026.
Publishers have assured stakeholders that distribution to public schools will be completed by October 2026, well ahead of the January 2027 school opening for Grade 11 learners.
KPA said the timeline is designed to prevent the shortages and delays that have previously disrupted curriculum transitions in Kenya’s education system.
“This development marks an important step in supporting the timely and effective implementation of the Competency-Based Education curriculum,” the association said, adding that it remains committed to ensuring high-quality learning materials are delivered on time.
The rollout follows a structured review process overseen by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).
Manuscripts for Grade 11 textbooks were submitted on December 9, 2025, with evaluation results released on February 10, 2026.
Approved publishers subsequently engaged in a detailed quality assurance process with KICD to refine content and correct errors before receiving final approval.
The development is a critical step in Kenya’s ongoing transition to the CBE system, which emphasises skills-based learning and competency development over traditional exam-focused approaches.
Education stakeholders say the timely availability of textbooks will be central to the success of Grade 11 implementation, particularly as the country moves into the senior secondary phase of the new curriculum.
