Parents with children who scored 400 marks fear they may miss national schools

Principal Kanga High School Michael Gweno, second left, with his staff peruse joinings instructions letters during the launch of National Form One selection 2016. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD.

Some parents whose children scored 400 marks or higher have expressed concern that the pupils may miss out slots in national schools. The parents said they have been unable to establish if their children were selected to national schools following the Form One selection.

“When we send a text message to make inquiries, the reply is wait for a county school. We are concerned and need to know whether he has been called to the national school of his choice or not,” Chrispen Omoga a parent of a candidate who scored 426 marks said. The Standard on Sunday made contact with five pupils who emerged top ten countrywide to establish their fate.

Aggrey Wabuko, who scored 449 marks from St Joseph’s Primary School in Kakamega, has received a text message to confirm that he has been called to Alliance.

Lennox Kimathi Kathingiri from Meru Primary, who scored 446 marks, has been selected to join Alliance Boys together with Collins Kipkoech from Chelsa Academy who scored 446 marks.

Macharia Muragu, who scored 446 marks, has also been called to Alliance Boys. Felista Onduso from Gilgil Hills Primary school, who scored 445 marks, has been called to Alliance Girls as well as Naomi Gakoi from Happy Land School who had 440 marks.

Omoga expressed his fears, and said if previous Form One selection exercises are anything to go by, there was likelihood that some deserving children may be by passed over for places in national schools, especially those from private schools. Another parent Caleb Wituka whose child scored 431 also expressed fears that there may be discrimination in selection of candidates from private schools.

“We were told that all candidates who scored over 400 marks will be selected for national schools but we have reason to believe that our children may be called to little known-schools,” he said.

Washington Osuma, the headmaster at Hills School Academy, said he was overwhelmed by constant inquiries from parents.

“Just like parents, we are not involved in the selection. Going by the Cabinet Secretary’s promise, I am sure all candidates who performed well will be placed in national schools. Parents and candidates should not panic,” he said.

David Anyanga, the headmaster at Fesbeth Academy, said they have been assured that all students who scored over 400 marks had been selected to join national schools.

“Officials in the Ministry informed us that the server maybe slow so there is nothing to worry about,” he said.

A pupil Aggrey Wabuko, the best in KCPE from St Joseph’s Primary, received a text message inviting him to Alliance High School.

In last year’s KCPE 7,056 students scored over 400 marks and national schools have a total of 23, 085 slots.