Textbook publishing in Kenya under a new policy on school textbook procurement

This article will address the implications for textbook publishing in Kenya under a new policy on textbook procurement. The new policy was launched in September 1998. The main aim of the policy was to transform a largely government run publishing system by liberalising the textbook market through private sector participation. This would give schools and parents the freedom to choose the books to be used in their schools. With continuing reduction in government textbook expenditure (since 1988), it will remain to be seen whether parents have enough purchasing power to buy books. The intensity of marketing to schools and parents will have to be stepped up by publishers if they are to succeed in the more competitive market.