Teachers have complained that the errors in English, Kiswahili, Biology and Physics books are confusing learners.
A team of experts from the KICD established that while the textbook has both typographical and tenses errors, its contents meet the approved threshold.
The curriculum developer and publishers have downplayed errors in new secondary school text books, saying the mistakes cannot compromise quality of education.
Among errors detected in the books recently issued to Form One students include a mix-up of the content ideas, erroneous calculations, spelling mistakes and poor arrangement of topics.
Teachers have complained that the errors in English, Kiswahili, Biology and Physics books are confusing learners.
“By international standards, books are given up to 10 per cent allowance for errors. The errors in these books do not in any way compromise learning in this country,” Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) chief executive Julius Jwan told the National Assembly’s Education committee Tuesday.
The Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) - which represents 99 per cent of local publishers - echoed Dr Jwan’s sentiments noting that some of the matters raised were simply perceptions by teachers that do not qualify as errors.
“While the detected errors do not compromise learning in the classroom, we have taken corrective measures,” said KPA chairman Lawrence Njagi.
Prior to launch of the ‘one-textbook policy’, students were using Kiswahili Kitukuzwe but it was changed to Uhondo wa Kiswahili by Moran Publishers.
A team of experts from the KICD established that while the textbook has both typographical and tenses errors, its contents meet the approved threshold.
The Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) was tasked with printing biology text books, where complaints were raised on the labelling of a microscope diagram.
The team from the KICD scrutinised the material comparing the past and present editions of the biology books. It was established that the labelling is accurate and that microscope diagram is an improvement of previous edition since it is now coloured.
“The KICD is scrutinising all the books that the government is buying and will give a comprehensive report on the publishers soon,” said Dr Jwan. Under the textbook supplies carried out in January to Form One students, only six subjects were covered.
These are mathematics, English, Kiswahili, chemistry, biology and physics and were procured at a cost of Sh7.6 billion.
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