- KICD has launched a nationwide verification exercise to confirm Grade 10 enrolment and subject selection data in public senior schools.
- The exercise will guide the second phase of textbook distribution under the Competency-Based Curriculum.
- Principals have until June 19, 2026, to submit updated learner and textbook data through an online portal.
By Joseph Mambili
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has launched a nationwide verification exercise for Grade 10 learner enrolment and subject selection data as it prepares for the second phase of textbook distribution to senior schools across the country.
In a notice addressed to principals of public senior schools, KICD said the first phase of textbook distribution had already been completed using data initially provided by the Ministry of Education. However, the institute is now seeking updated information to ensure every learner receives textbooks for the subjects they are studying.
“The Institute is seeking to confirm the Grade 10 student enrolment data in every public Senior School by end of First Term 2026 in terms of numbers of learners taking various subjects,” the notice states.
According to KICD, the updated data will be used to guide the next round of textbook deliveries and help the government achieve its one-to-one textbook policy under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“This will inform the second phase of distribution of Grade 10 textbooks in order to ensure that all learners have received textbooks in all subjects on a One-to-One ratio as per Government Policy,” KICD said.
Enrolment data
The institute has directed all principals of public senior schools to submit the current number of Grade 10 learners by subject as well as the number of textbooks received for each subject.
Schools have until June 19, 2026 to submit the information through an online portal provided by KICD.
The institute further noted that principals who have already submitted the required data do not need to resubmit.
“Those Principals who have already submitted their data need not re-submit,” the notice says.
KICD has also established an urgent support channel for schools that have not received textbooks, received insufficient copies, or were supplied with excess books.
Critical stage
The verification exercise comes at a crucial moment in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum as the pioneer CBC cohort settles into Senior School.
The Grade 10 class marks the first full transition of learners into the senior secondary pathway structure, where students select subjects aligned to their interests, talents and career aspirations. Unlike the previous 8-4-4 system, textbook demand under CBC varies significantly depending on subject uptake in each school.
Education stakeholders have previously raised concerns over disparities in textbook allocation due to changing enrolment figures and subject choices after students join senior school.
Background
The government has consistently maintained that all learners should have access to textbooks at a one-to-one ratio. Over the past few years, billions of shillings have been invested in the procurement and distribution of CBC learning materials through KICD and the Ministry of Education.
The first cohort of Grade 10 learners entered Senior School in 2026 following the rollout of the Competency-Based Education system. Senior School offers learners pathways and subject combinations that differ from one institution to another, making accurate enrolment and subject data essential for textbook planning and distribution.
READ ALSO: The education legacy of Gideon Konchella in transforming Narok’s learning landscape
The latest KICD verification exercise is therefore expected to help align textbook supplies with actual learner numbers and subject choices, ensuring that schools receive the right books in the right quantities as learning continues in the second term.
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
