Public schools in Ukambani excel in KCPE

Konza Plainsview Academy head teacher Samuel Masai (centre) leads students and teachers in celebrations after the new school produced five candidates with over 400 marks. [Erastus M Mulwa, Standard]

Performance trend in the national exams has not been witnessed in Makueni and Machakos counties in the past five years.

Several public schools in Makueni and Machakos counties produced top performers to beat famous private academies in the 2017 KCPE examination, whose results were released on Tuesday.

In a stunning performance that has not been witnessed in the past five years in the national examination, some public primary schools produced most of the region’s top candidates in this year’s KCPE as opposed to the previous years where private institutions called the shots in academics.

Machakos Primary School, a public day school, produced 14 candidates who scored over 400 marks.

Tala Township, a day and boarding school in Matungulu sub-county, also produced four candidates scoring above 400 marks in the same examination.

Deborah Ndanu of Machakos Primary topped in the county with 429 marks followed by Hike Mulei (425), Donald Mbuvi(424), Mary Mwanza (421) and Caleb Ngumbau (418), all from the same school.

Ndanu, 13, said she hopes to join Alliance Girls High School for her secondary education after which she would pursue a law degree at the University of Nairobi.

Excellent performance

She said her excellent performance was expected and attributed her results to her teachers and supportive parents. “As I thank God for the marks I have scored. I know my parents and teachers played a major role in ensuring I succeeded in my studies and examinations,” she said.

In Tala Township, Mbithi Moses, Sharon Nafula and Eric Mwangi topped with 408, 403 and 400 marks respectively.

According to the head teacher Jonathan Muli, hard work, students’ discipline and dedication by teachers yielded the impressive results.

“We are proud of what we have achieved but there’s a big room for improvement in the coming years. All we need is support by relevant stakeholders,” he said.

And in Makueni County, Vitale Holy Ghost HGM, Kari Mwilu Day and Boarding and Utafiti, all public schools, produced dozens of top candidates in the examination.

Maureen Kathuka of Vitale HGM emerged top candidate in the region after scoring 437 marks. Despite two incidents of dormitory fires in June and September, the school managed a mean score of 363 marks out of the possible 500.

“It was not easy. I didn’t know I would become a person of interest to many. Becoming a top scorer was due to efforts by my teachers, parents and my fellow pupils,” she said.

Vitale head teacher David Muthike said his dedicated team of teaching staff remained resilient in the wake of frequent interruptions by strange dormitory fires which caused much panic among pupils.

In Utafiti, Faith Mueke, Jackline Wavinya and Nduku Lubega topped with 426, 420 and 415 marks respectively.

And in Kari-Mwilu Day and Boarding, seven pupils scored over 400 marks. They included Mbogo Silver (426), Esther Nyamu (425), Mary Nyambura (417), Myrna Juin (408), Kelvin Alvin (405), Daniel Mumo (402) and Joshua Mwendwa (401).

Konza Plainsview Academy, which enrolled the first batch of KCPE candidates this year, posted stunning performance with a mean grade of 375 marks out of the possible 500.

First lot

Located around seven kilometres South of Konza Techno City in Machakos, it produced five candidates with over 400 marks in its first stab at KCPE.

Elvis Muoka (425), Peter Muthangya (409), Metiaki Naomy (403), Elvis Leseni (402) and Bramuel Nyerere, scored 401 marks.

The school’s head teacher Samuel Masai praised the Ministry of Education for streamlining the exam administration system.“I give credit to Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who has clearly demonstrated the essence of holding credible examinations,” he said.