Matiang’i bars sharing of books among learners

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i has directed school heads not to allow students to share books in class, saying the government provides enough money to buy the reading materials.

The CS said it is unfair for five learners to share a single book yet money is provided to buy books for each.

“The current system used in distributing books to public schools is not working. Schools are not buying books at all,” said Mr Matiang’i.

He was speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation during the award of four-year Sh4 million scholarships to 75 needy children by the foundation.

The minister said that despite the State providing books to schools for the last three years, the book to pupil ratio is still 1:5.

“We have several issues with books that we need to address. We must be accountable for the resources we are given. I am not happy with the purchase of textbooks in schools at all,” said Mr Matiang’i.

He said he will meet with Kenya Publishers Association and Kenya School Heads Association leaders to agree on how best to handle the issue.

The National Treasury is also set to be looped in the discussions.

“We do not want racketeering in the ministry at the expense of our children,” said Mr Matiang’i.

The government provides Sh1, 420 for learning materials for each pupil. This is the money used to buy textbooks, exercise books and other stationery. Each secondary school student is allocated Sh3,000 for books and other reading materials annually.

Enrolment at secondary schools rose from 1.9 million in 2012 to 2.3 million this year. For primary schools, it went up from 9.8 million in 2012 to 10.2 million this year.

In the current financial year, Sh32.9 billion has been set aside to cater for students in secondary schools, while Sh14 billion will support pupils in public primary schools.

A Unesco Global Education Monitoring report showed that Kenya could save about Sh6.4 billion annually if it improves on textbooks procurement system in public schools.