Shadrack Nyakoe
Kenya is entering a pivotal chapter in its education reform journey as thousands of learners prepare for national Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) exams. Grade 6 and Grade 9 students are gearing up to sit their final Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), respectively. Meanwhile, Grade 3 learners are preparing for writing assessments across two learning areas, while Grades 4 and 5 continue with their continuous assessments in eight subjects.
This moment marks a significant milestone in the country’s shift to Competency-Based Education (CBE) — a system designed to equip students with practical, future-ready skills. However, while the promise of CBE is bold and transformative, its rollout has not been without challenges.
Challenges on the Ground
Learners, particularly those in public schools, continue to face critical barriers. Many contend with limited access to textbooks and basic stationery, study in schools with inadequate infrastructure, and rely on strained funding sources. These gaps risk undermining the very goals of the reform.
In this context, meaningful collaboration between the private sector, NGOs, and local communities is not just helpful — it is essential.
BIC: Bridging the Resource Gap
Earlier this year, BIC East Africa marked the fifth edition of its flagship education initiative, Buy Me and BIC Will Donate a Pen. The premise is simple yet powerful: for every pen purchased, one is donated.
In 2025 alone, this initiative enabled the distribution of 150,000 pens to learners across Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, and Kajiado counties. These donations ensured that students in under-resourced schools were equipped with the essential tools needed to fully participate in their learning and examination activities.
This effort forms part of BIC’s global ambition to improve learning conditions for 250 million students by 2025. Already, more than 200 million learners worldwide have benefited from the company’s sustainability-led program, Writing the Future Together.
Beyond Stationery: Investing in Sustainable Schools
BIC’s commitment to education extends beyond supplying stationery. Through its Environmental Legacy Initiative, the company has partnered with schools to plant 22 fruit orchards, comprising 1,650 trees, across the country — including at Mathare North Primary School in Kasarani.
These orchards are more than symbolic gestures; they serve as sustainable, income-generating assets. Each orchard has the potential to generate KES 6.6 million annually, helping schools fund operations and improve their facilities.
In addition to creating green jobs, the orchards contribute to climate resilience, sequestering an estimated 41.25 tons of carbon dioxide every year.
Empowering the Next Generation
For students preparing to sit CBC exams, something as simple as having a pen can be the difference between stress and success. By removing resource-based barriers, BIC helps learners focus on their education and unlock their full potential.
Through its education-focused and sustainability-aligned initiatives, the company continues to demonstrate the critical role that private sector actors can play in advancing inclusive, quality education.
The Power of Partnership
As Kenya lays the foundation for a new generation of skilled, empowered citizens through the CBC framework, partnerships like those fostered by BIC will continue to play an essential role.
By collaborating with government institutions, communities, and other private-sector players, BIC is helping to build an educational ecosystem that is accessible, equitable, and sustainable.
Final Word
BIC’s journey in Kenya is a compelling testament to the transformative power of corporate purpose. This story is not just about pens — it’s about potential. Because when every child is equipped, every future becomes possible.
Patmoz
