Recently, the Ministry announced changes to the "set books" that children will be required to read in 2017. The new texts adopted by the Ministry include the following:
English Texts:
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Memories We Lost and Other Stories compiled by Chris Wanjata
Swahili Texts:
Kigogo by Pauline Kyovi
Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine by Ken Walibora and Said A. Mohamed
Competition among publishers to have their books named as one of the "set books" is fierce in Kenya. Publishers lobby relentlessly for their books because being named a set text guarantees huge book sales and a financial windfall for publishers. There have even been accusations of corruption from publishers who feel their books were not given due consideration by the Ministry of Education. In recent years, the Ministry has also been under pressure to change set books less frequently in order make the cost of education in Kenya more affordable.
Fortunately for the children at Waddington High School, a donation was recently made which covered approximately half the cost of the required set books. The teachers determine in which order the books are read, but each student will read all of the required books before they sit for the KCSE.
Sponsors of high school students in Forms 3 and 4 may wish to ask them about their set book reading in their letters. The Pearl, in particular, is easily accessible in libraries in English-speaking countries, and there is quite a lot of information available about the book online as well.
