The much-anticipated rollout of Grade 10 in 2026 has been met with a quiet crisis in the publishing sector. Education CS Julius Ogamba admitted that publishers initially refused to release the new Senior School materials until the government addressed an accumulated Sh11 billion debt spanning supplies from Grades 1 to 9.
H2: Unlocking the Supply Chain: A Sh5.6 Billion Breakthrough
To break the stalemate, the Ministry of Education recently negotiated with the National Treasury to release Sh5.6 billion—roughly half of the total debt. This payment has successfully “unlocked” the distribution process.
Distribution Status: As of late January, the Ministry reports that approximately 50% of the books have reached schools.
The Goal: CS Ogamba has given publishers and headteachers a firm commitment to hit 100% distribution by January 31, 2026.
The Strategy: The Ministry is strictly adhering to a one-to-one textbook ratio for each learning area.
H2: The “Limbo” in the Classroom
The delay has left many of the 1.13 million pioneer Grade 10 learners in a difficult position. In schools without physical books, students have been:
Relying on digital notes provided by teachers.
Using shared materials in cases where limited “legacy” books were available.
Waiting for the final “mop-up” of the transition, which currently stands at an 85% reporting rate nationwide.
H2: Data Errors and NEMIS Rationalization
CS Ogamba also pointed out that some delays were caused by “internal data friction.” Some schools failed to receive books during the earlier Grade 9 rollout because principals provided inaccurate data on the NEMIS portal. The Ministry is now rationalizing these numbers to ensure books “follow the learners” in cases of inter-school transfers.
CS Ogamba’s Directive: “Every student must report to school, with or without uniforms or full fees. The government has provided the money to teach our children, and the books will be there by the end of the month.”
Conclusion: A Tense Finish to January
For the pioneer CBC class, 2026 is a year of firsts. While the Sh11 billion debt was a significant hurdle, the partial payment and the flagging off of nearly 12 million textbooks on January 22nd suggest that the crisis is being managed. All eyes are now on the January 31st deadline to see if every Senior School student will finally have their core learning materials.
