Governor hits out at leaders over poor exam results

Kakamega: Leaders have been blamed for the poor education standards in Kakamega’s Malava sub-county.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya urged leaders and teachers from the area to identify the reasons for the poor performance and act upon them.

“Kakamega North’s poor education results has been criticised for long now. It is upon educationists to put proper mechanisms in place in order to better the 2014 results,” Oparanya stated.

Speaking during the burial of Hezron Sachita Keya, a former councillor of Shirugu Ward, Kakamega County, the governor promised to meet with all principals and education stakeholders next week Friday, to chart the way forward.

 Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Director Nandi County Isaac Shaviya revealed that out of the 430 students who sat for the Form Four examinations last year, 314 scored D+  and below.

He said 73 per cent of students who sat for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in Kakamega North scored D+ and below, while only two students had a B+ in the whole zone.

 FEW PROFESSIONALS

“Attitude towards education is wanting in Malava Sub-county. In the recent Education Day at Mayuke Primary School, only one head teacher was present yet important matters concerning education were being discussed,” said Shaviya.

Shaviya observed the region has very few professors, doctors and engineers, because education stakeholders have not invested in science subjects. The county currently has to source for professionals to run and manage affairs outside the county.

“Parents and teachers should work harder, so that more of our children get enrolled in national schools. If you take him to a district school, the performance will not be the same,” Shaviya stated.

INCITEMENT REMARKS

Meanwhile, a Busia Member of the County Assembly (MCA) was arraigned in a Busia court for allegedly making remarks akin to incitement.

John Agesa Obwogo, the Nangina Ward rep appeared before Chief Magistrate Ogolla Ogembo, where he denied the charges.

The court heard that on June 1 during Madaraka Day Celebrations held at Lugulu AC Secondary School in Butula, Busia County, the MCA is said to have uttered words that were likely to incite the public against President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The MCA was released on Sh50,000 bond, or  a Sh20, 000 cash bail after his lawyer, Oye Ashioya asked the court to grant him bond.

The accused presented himself to the police at 8am Tuesday after efforts by security officers to arrest him in his Nangina village on Monday were unsuccessful. This forced the 53 MCAs to cancel Assembly sessions, to join their colleague at Busia police station, and later to the law court.

Addressing the press at the police station premises, the Nangina ward rep denied making incitement remarks, and instead clarified that he wanted CORD leadership to rise up against the Jubilee government.

“I meant that CORD leadership should stop talking about tyranny of numbers, but instead go to the bush and fish people to vote,” Obwogo said.

Earlier, the MCAs stormed the police station to complain over the delay by the police to take their colleague to court.