The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has bowed to pressure from the public over controversial misleading content in the Form Three Biology textbook.
Concerned Kenyans had petitioned KICD to issue a public apology and review some content in a biology book for Form Three learners titled Certificate Biology, arguing that the content was misleading to the learners.
KICD Director and CEO, Prof. Charles Ong’ondo, in a statement on Thursday issued an apology for the content in the book regarding sentences that seemed to place blame on rape victims.
Prof. Ong’ondo stated that emails sent to the agency via emails had raised concerns about two particular sentences in the textbook that suggest rape can be caused by indecent dressing or that adhering to dress codes can prevent it.
Critics argued that such content in a widely used textbook could potentially contribute to rape culture as it strengthens dangerous stereotypes and victim-blaming attitudes.
On his part, the KICD CEO noted that Kenyans were worried that the content is not only misleading but also harmful, as it can be perceived to be promoting victim-blaming and rape, contrary to the law.
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“The Institute acknowledges that indeed the sentences above could be interpreted to suggest that indecent dressing is the main cause of rape and may also insinuate “victim blaming” in the case of rape,” Ong’ondo said.
“Therefore, KICD offers an apology to readers who consider the quoted sentences in the book Certificate Biology for Form Three to be misleading for not detecting this during the evaluation in 2005,” he added.
Misleading Content in Form 3 Biology Book
The controversial sentences are on page 170 of the book under the topic “Prevention of AIDS”.
They read: “Modest dress code and behaviour to avoid provoking or tempting other persons into sexual arousal. Many rape cases are due to such provocations. One should also avoid being alone with a person of the opposite sex in secluded areas to prevent losing one’s control.”
“Date rapes are even more common than rape by total strangers. Girls should be especially watchful in not having their drinks mixed with drugs or alcohol, which cause them to lose control of their senses,” it reads further.
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Acknowledging that the sentences could be interpreted to suggest that indecent dressing is the main cause of rape, Prof Ongo’ndo added that they may also lead to “victim blaming” in case of rape.
KICD Issues way forward
Going forward, the CEO noted that the institute has formed a panel comprising curriculum development officers, quality assurance and standards officers, teachers and other relevant stakeholders to review the content of the book within two weeks.
“There was no intention whatsoever to justify rape under any circumstances; even as modest/decent dressing is encouraged among learners and the entire public, especially in the school context,” he said.
Prof Ong’ondo said the book was published by East African Educational Publishers (EAEP) in 2004, evaluated and approved by KICD, and listed in the Orange Book in 2005.
A new edition of the book was printed and distributed to schools in 2018.
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