The Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) has raised concerns about Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) learning materials following changes to the curriculum.
KLB Managing Director George Okeyo disclosed the expected loss while appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee to present its FY2025/2026 budget implementation status on September 10.
The Committee, chaired during the session by Vice-Chairperson Eve Obara, was examining the financial performance of government-owned entities under its oversight.
According to Okeyo, the anticipated dead stock, approximated at KSh 600 million, resulted from the review of the curriculum based on recommendations made by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWER) in the FY2023/2024.
The Bureau asked the Committee to address the challenge, citing the financial cost of learning materials required under the revised curriculum.
Also Read: CBC Pathways and Careers: What Every Grade 10 Learner Can Pursue After Senior School
CBC Curriculum Transition
Kenya has progressively implemented the CBC to replace the previous 8-4-4 system with Junior Secondary Education covering Grades 7 to 9 and Senior School covering Grades 10 to 12.
Currently, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) official curriculum development cycle includes needs assessment, curriculum design, and development of support materials.
Additionally, the cycle involves preparation of implementers, piloting and phasing in, national implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
The transition to Senior School has also required the production and approval of new materials for Grade 10, with learners selecting pathways including STEM, Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports Science.
According to Okeyo, developing new materials and making ongoing curriculum adjustments may mean that the materials no longer align with the revised curriculum requirements.
KLB Records Underspending in Recurrent and Development Budgets
The disclosure came as the Committee also scrutinized KLB’s absorption of its allocated funds for the financial year.
Okeyo told the Committee that KLB had spent KSh1.9 billion against a recurrent expenditure allocation of KSh2.2 billion.
He attributed the variance to the late approval of the supplementary budget by the National Treasury, which left the Bureau with a short period within which to execute the approved budget.
On development expenditure, the Bureau reported a KSh44.5 million variance, representing 41 percent of its development budget.
According to the KLB MD, Okeyo, the under-commitment stemmed from non-responsive tenders for the purchase of printing-related machinery.
“On the Development Budget of the FY, we had a variance of 44.5 million, which translates to 41% of the development budget. This under-commitment resulted from non-responsive tenders.
Also Read: 12 Senior Schools Offering Unique CBC Subject Combinations for Grade 10 Learners
Parliament Questions KLB Over Staff Spending
During the Committee budget implementation exercise, the lawmakers questioned KLB over underspending on its personnel budget.
Kitutu Masaba Member of Parliament Clive Gisairo questioned why the Bureau had saved more than KSh79 million under gratuity and pension provisions, citing that many Kenyans are currently jobless.
Addressing the concern about the personal budget, Clive also asked the Bureau to clarify whether the KSh 79 million had been overestimated in the initial budget.
“For board sitting, I can understand that you saved all that because there is no Board, but when you look at personal emoluments, you saved over KShs 79 million in gratuity and pension. What is leading to this? Is it that you are not recruiting and many Kenyans are jobless, and for you to be saving money meant for staff?” Hon. Clive Gisairo asked.
In addition to the KLB officials, the National Assembly Education Committee also met with other institutions during the budget implementation exercise, including the State Department for Research and Innovation, Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), National Research Fund (NRF) an KLB Warns KSh600m CBC Materials Could Become Dead Stock After Curriculum Changes Recommendationsd National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).
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