St Francis Girls National School, Mang'u in Kiambu County emerged the best overall winner of the national mathematics contest held in the county on Saturday.

The School beat four counties that participated in the Brookside and Strathmore University-sponsored mathematics challenge held at Kenyatta National School, Mwatate in Taita Taveta County. Over 900 form three and four students participated.

The contest, whose aim is to improve the poor standards of education in counties, was themed: 'Math's Demystified'. Other counties that participated in the event were Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi.

St Francis had a mean score of 9.1 followed by Mvita School with managed 7.9. Abuhurera came third with a mean score of seven while Kenyatta was fourth with 5.1. In mixed secondary schools, Abuhurera was ranked top followed by Mwakiwiwi and Moi High School Kasigau.

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu and Brookside Dairy Marketing Manager Peter Wasonga decried the negative attitudes towards mathematics.

"Schools where we have done the mathematics contest have constantly performed better in national examinations," said Mr Wasonga.