Lack of Textbooks Affects Public JSS Schools
Public schools in Kenya are struggling to provide adequate learning resources to their students, including textbooks. While private schools have been able to source their own textbooks, most public schools have not been so lucky.
As a result, many public schools have not been able to start teaching some subjects, leaving students to revise what they learned in primary school to stay engaged.
Despite the challenges, some schools have taken proactive steps to prepare for the Junior Secondary School (JSS) curriculum.
Most private JSS schools had prepared in advance, with classrooms and laboratories ready for the new curriculum. They sourced their books from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KCID). Some have also introduced foreign language classes, including German.
Meanwhile, in Technology Primary School has received textbooks for 11 subjects and is awaiting the rest. Kiangati Primary School, on the other hand, has only one teacher for its 29 students and has received textbooks for seven subjects.
In Migori County, many book suppliers and publishers have not been paid their dues by the government, causing a shortage of textbooks in JSS schools. As a result, teachers have been photocopying pages of some learning materials downloaded online to teach their students.
Despite these challenges, the Ministry of Education has assured the public that it is doing its best to ensure textbooks are delivered to all public schools as soon as possible.
The lack of resources in public schools is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed urgently. Without adequate resources, students’ learning outcomes will be compromised, perpetuating the education gap between public and private schools.
Lack of Textbooks Affects Public JSS Schools
