As is custom, the new year often symbolises the entry of a new thing.

In the education sector, this would not be more accurate as 2023 marked the end of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the continuation of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

Mtaa Wangu decided to visit some of the people who sell second hand books in a bid to understand the impact of these changes to the book business.

Read: A Nakuru mom's guide to navigating back to school anxiety

Brian Nyabera, a book seller in Nakuru city says that indeed the introduction of the new curriculum presents a challenge to them.

"Even as the new curriculum was being introduced, we gradually found ourselves not restocking the KCPE books. However, we still incurred losses. I still have KCPE revision books which now I cannot sell," he says.

He continues to say that the loss amounts to roughly Sh. 100,000.

Another book seller, Kodek Gichana, echoes the sentiments of his colleague.

However Gichana admits that business has not been good, forcing them to devise clever ways to get a sale.

According to him, second hand book sellers have devised ways to cushion their customers from the high cost of living.

Kodek Gichana stands beside his second hand book collection in Nakuru city on January 4, 2024.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

"Whenever a parent comes and buys books from us, we often tell them to come with the book of the previous grade. For example, if your child is in grade 2 and they are going to grade 3, parents bring to us the grade 2 revision books and they get the grade 3 books but they have to part with a small token of maybe Sh 150 that would facilitate the binding of the books and also other additional charges," he said.

He maintains that CBC still presents a challenge in that there are very many varieties in the books being sold, leaving parents confused.

Mtaa Wangu also spoke to some of the parents purchasing books ahead of the back to school rush next week.

Mitchell Gituku a customer notes that indeed the high cost of living has also taken a toll on them.

"I have one child who is going to grade four this year. Apart from factoring in the school fees, I have to also buy text books and with the high prices at which they are going, it makes it hard for us to be able to buy them," she said.

She adds that the encyclopaedia she wanted was going for Sh 1,800 and she can barely make half the money.

Related: Meet Couple Who Make a Living from Home schooling Services

"I think the system of bringing in old books and getting new ones at a lesser price is very good. It can go a long away to help cushion parents," she says.

sanyabret@gmail.com

CBC leaves Nakuru parents, book sellers, confused

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Bret Sanya