Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) has entered into partnership agreements with four counties in the North Rift Region to print and supply learning materials for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in the counties.
The agreements will ensure that KLB provide learners in Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties easy access to learning materials and improve literacy levels.
Kenya Literature Bureau seeks to use the partnership deals to push the sale of its ‘Skill Grow Series’ for Early Childhood Development Education,” The Innovator Series” for Village Polytechnics and other institutional printing works.
West Pokot County has given KLB Kshs 7.5 million to publish and distribute books to all ECD centers in the County.
This is the first phase of deal second distribution of TVET institutions will come later.
KLB Managing Director, Victor Lomaria while visiting Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties yesterday said that KLB has developed content to suit learners in all levels of education.
“We thank the counties’ leadership for embracing and investing heavily in the growth of ECDE and Village polytechnic institutions,” he said.
Mr. Lomaria further added that the move to introduce the learning materials directly to counties’ schools is modeled along the Government’s programme to distribute free textbooks to all public primary and secondary schools in the country.
“Buying and branding of books directly from the publishers guarantees control. The footnote on every page of the books makes it hard for the pirates to reproduce them. It also gives the county a lifeline of ownership,” said Lomaria.
Trans Nzoia Deputy Governor, Dr. Stanley Tarus, commended KLB for the role it plays in providing quality reading materials for all the learners in the country.
West Pokot County Secretary, Dr. Mike Parklea, during the signing of the partnership deal, thanked KLB for opening up West Pokot through provision of educational materials.
“Education is the best development investment and West Pokot is putting it among its top priorities,” he said.
Dr. Parklea also added that the county, over the years, has been marginalized and literacy levels were still low.
“The partnership deal will help address the challenges facing ECDE and TVET institutions in the county. We are putting ECDE and TVET education among our top priorities as a county. We believe that education is the best leveler. Regardless of the background of the people, they will succeed if they get relevant exposure to learning materials and that is what Kenya Literature Bureau has been doing,” said Dr. Parklea
West Pokot County Executive Committee Member for Education and Technical Training, Ms Christine Apakoreng, said that the partnership deal will ensure every ECDE and TVET institutions gets the essential learning material.
Ms. Apokoreng added that by so doing, every learner in the county accesses the appropriate learning material and thus enhancing the levels of learning in the county.