Schools using textbooks and other curriculum support materials not approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) risk legal action, the curriculum agency has warned.
KICD Chief Executive Officer Prof Charles Ochieng' Ong'ondo said institutions should ensure that all textbooks and other learning materials used by teachers and learners have undergone the institute's evaluation and approval process. He said using materials outside the approved list could expose learners to inaccurate, misleading and poor-quality content that has not been subjected to the required quality assurance checks.
The warning comes as KICD rolls out approved Grade 11 textbooks, teachers' guides and literary texts ahead of the transition of the pioneer Grade 10 Competency-Based Education (CBE) cohort to Grade 11 in January 2027. Ong'ondo said the approval process is designed to ensure that materials used in schools are aligned with the curriculum and meet the required standards.
"Today the media published the list of approved books for Grade 11. We want to inform our public: please do not use books that are not approved by the institute," Ong'ondo said, describing the use of unapproved materials as illegal.
According to KICD, evaluators examine learning materials for alignment with approved curriculum designs, accuracy and relevance of content, pedagogical suitability, inclusivity, language and presentation, among other requirements. The institute has urged teachers to ensure that books they recommend to parents for purchase are included in the official approved list.
KICD said the official list of approved Grade 11 textbooks and literary texts is contained in the Orange Book, while approved curriculum designs and other curriculum support materials are available through the institute. The warning also extends to parents and learners, who have been advised to confirm that books purchased for school use are approved.
KICD's position is backed by Section 27 of the KICD Act, 2013, which provides the legal basis for regulation of curriculum support materials. The institute has said the use of non-approved textbooks and curriculum support materials contravenes the law and is punishable.
The latest warning comes amid concerns over the circulation of unauthorised educational materials in the market, including books that may be presented as suitable for the Competency-Based Curriculum despite not appearing on the approved list. KICD has previously cautioned parents and teachers against assuming that every revision book or textbook labelled for a particular grade is suitable for use under the curriculum.
The agency is currently overseeing the distribution of Grade 11 learning materials to regular and Special Needs Education schools, with the exercise expected to continue through December. The developments place greater responsibility on school administrators, teachers and parents to verify learning materials before they are purchased or introduced in classrooms.
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