BY ANGELA R. KIURA
Booksellers in Embu town are grappling with mounting financial losses following frequent changes to textbooks under the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), just as schools reopen for the new term.
Traders say constant revisions by education authorities have rendered large stocks of textbooks obsolete, leaving them with shelves full of books that schools no longer require and for which there is no alternative market.
“We invested heavily, believing these books would serve schools for several years,” said one bookseller, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.
“Now, within a short time, they are declared outdated and we are left counting losses,” he added.
Many vendors note that textbooks form the backbone of their business, and abrupt curriculum-related changes directly affect their livelihoods.
Some have been forced to store tonnes of unsold books, while others say they have taken loans to keep their shops operational amid dwindling sales.
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The traders argue that while curriculum reforms are necessary, the implementation has been unpredictable and economically damaging to those in the book trade.
“We are not against CBC. But the changes should be well-planned and communicated early, so booksellers are not trapped with dead stock,” another trader said.
The booksellers are now calling on the Ministry of Education and relevant agencies to engage publishers, vendors, and other stakeholders before approving textbook revisions.
They want a long-term and stable textbook policy that cushions traders from sudden losses while ensuring learners access quality learning materials.
As schools continue to adjust to CBC, Embu booksellers warn that without urgent intervention, more traders may be pushed out of business, further straining the local economy.
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