Educational publishing and provision of quality primary school textbooks in Kenya
Loading...
Date
2012-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
The aim of the study was to establish the views of teachers and pupils on the quality of primary school textbooks within
the Kesses Division, Uasin Gishu County in Kenya, and to make recommendations on issues that need to be addressed by
stakeholders in the textbook publication industry. Forty four (44) public primary schools within the Kesses Division were
sampled for the study. Questionnaires were used to collect data from subject teachers and a cross section of pupils. Also,
interview schedules were used to collect data from Ministry of Education officers. The findings revealed that there was
disjointed communication between the Kenyan Ministry of Education and textbook publishers and users. The study also
established that the evaluation and vetting process of primary school textbooks was not transparent respect of the
appointment of panel members. Important recommendations include: the establishment of feedback mechanisms by the
Ministry of Education to enable response to complaints presented by textbook users, establishing open and transparent
guidelines on the appointment of members to the evaluation panel and that vetting committee members and educational
publishers be given adequate time to develop textbooks for primary schools
Description
Peer reviewed article published under Inkanyiso, Volume 4, Issue 2, Jan 2012, p. 117 - 127
Keywords
Primary school textbook, Quality of teaching materials, Education publishing, Kenyan education
Citation
Simam, R.C., Rotich, D.C. and Kemoni, H., 2012. Educational publishing and provision of quality primary school textbooks in Kenya. Inkanyiso: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(2), pp.117-127.