Private schools dominate top list of performers

Private schools, popularly known as academies, produced a significant chunk of the top performers in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam results, continuing with a tradition the country has witnessed in the last few years.

In the results, which saw girls clinch seven out of the top positions, private schools produced majority of the best performers.

They included the top candidates Kimutai Brian of Stewards Light School in Nandi county and Otieno Akoth Daphne of Golden Elite Junior School in Kisumu, both private schools.

The two candidates tied in the top position, scoring 444 out of 500 marks.

Hot on their heels were four candidates who scored 442 marks each all from private schools.

They included Mpekethu Uniter Riziki of Kathigiri B School in Meru, Boera Felix Robert of Vitale HGM in Makueni, Koskey Jonathan Kipkurui of St Mary’s Ruaraka-Nairobi and Nambiro Emmanuel Mulayi of Thorn Tree School in Kajiado who tied position three.

At number seven was Omondi Jully Lydia Awour of MM Shah in Kisumu and Angolio Yujin Mosongo, who both scored 441 marks.

Chepkorir Dorcas Cheruiyot of Kericho Primary and Masila Timothy Ian Kindiu of Newlight Komarock in Nairobi, Elizabeth Atieno Onyango of Tender Care in Nairobi and Ndete Velma Imali of Thorn Tree came in at number nine with 440 marks.

The same trend was replicated across the counties with private schools producing the top performers. In Kitui private schools dominated the category.

Mwingi region schools emerged top overall compared to others in the county for the second year running.

Among the five best schools in the county were Mui Kings Academy followed by Migwani Tumaini Academy, Precious Moment and Kanginga Oasis all in Mwingi and St Michael Academy in Kitui Central.

Kanginga Oasis produced the best candidate in the county Senator Collins Ateki.

The last five schools in the county were Ngaani, Ngomano, Kwamboo, Mataka and Malawa all public schools. A church-sponsored Nyeri Hillstead Academy pulled a surprise in the county by beating traditional top performers after its Joy Wambui Ndegwa , scored 439 marks.

The school had only 11 pupils sitting for the national exams — five boys and six girls — according to the school management.

Absence of a top female candidate in sight clouded celebration by the school community to mark her achievement in the exams.

Proprietors of the Kakamega Hill School where Sheila Wanjiku Odhiambo sat her KCPE exam last year mobilised parents for a celebration march through Kakamega town but the absence of the top student remained ominous.

Sheila scored 439 marks in KCPE to emerge tenth female students nationally, leading the overall ranking of KCPE candidates in the counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia.

In Busia, Bungoma and Vihiga counties the top students with 432 for the first two and 429 for the later all fell outside the top ten bracket nationally. An elated Kakamega Hill School director Selfa Omulisya told journalists she was thankful to God for the results, adding that the candidate will not be available to celebrate with the school as she lives in Nairobi. “We expected we shall produce a candidate to feature nationally.

Sheila was among the top two students in the school. Her performance was promising,” her principal Washington Tsuma said. In Nyeri, public schools for yet another year, performed dismally in this year’s exams. According to the results released yesterday by the Education Cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, none of the public schools emerged top among the ranking, raising fear of dismal performance of hundreds of students from poor families schooling in public institutions.

Snow View Academy from Kieni constituency emerged the best with a mean score of 383 followed by Slopes View Academy with 381. Good Shepherd with a pupil population of more than 100 emerged third while Gachugu Academy was in position four with a mean of 377.

Conspicuously absent from the top performers is Nyeri Primary known for its excellent performance.
Public schools in the county were ranked bottom five positions most of them managing a meanscore of between 16 and 19.

Among the schools in that category include Gathuthi, Karia, DEB Muslim and Thuguma which presented more than 200 pupils most of whom attained less than 10 of 500 marks.

Speaking to The People Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua decried the poor performance by the schools, saying he has instituted a taskforce to look into the matter.

Musau Ndunda, the secretary-general of the Kenya National Association of Parents, condemned the dismal performance by public schools, saying there is urgent need to correct the imbalance.

“If this trend continues, it means more than 70 per cent of our pupils in public schools will miss out on the opportunity for national schools.

Considering that the National Treasury has channelled billions in the recent past into the public school system we need to interrogate what is going on,” he said. - By PEOPLE TEAM

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