Private schools shine in 2021 exams, take 12 of top 14 positions

Ebenezer Hinga (in green) who scored 423 marks and Ian Duncan (420) celebrate with teachers and parents at St Peter's Elite, Gilgil. [Joseph Kipsang, Standard]

Private schools have bounced back, posting better scores in 2021 KCPE results released by Education CS Prof George Magoha. Of the 14 schools that produced top candidates, private ones claimed 12.

This is a major improvement compared to 2020 KCPE results, where only five candidates from private schools appeared among the top 15 national best performers.

Magata Bruce Mackenzie from Gilgil Hills Academy emerged best candidate in the 2021 KCPE after scoring 428 of the possible 500. 

This is, however, five points lower than the 2020 KCPE top candidate, who scored 433 marks. Ashley Kerubo Momanyi from Makini School, Kibos, came second with 427 marks.

Six other students tied in position three with 426 marks. They are Kwoma Charity Bakhoya Buyanzi of Holy Family Misikhu Girls Primary School, Mbugua Sharon Wairimu of Emmanuel Academy and Mueti Shantel Ndinda of Kitengela International School.

Others are Stanley Otieno Omondi of Rophine Field Junior School, Wekesa Naomi Neema of White Star Academy and Kimani Ethan Karuga - Stepping Stones Preparatory. 

Another six scored 425 marks. They are Njeru Joel Musyoka of Nyangwa Primary School, Kiriinya Muriuki Victor of PCEA Mwimbi Boarding, Diana Rose Matolo of Fesbeth Academy and Kaberia Emmanuel Munene of New Bambini.

Others are Emmanuel Kiplagat Ngetich of Moi Kabarak and George Morris Otieno of Hill School.

Of the top 14 students, 12, according to Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) Chief Executive Mr Peter Ndoro, sat the last year’s examinations in private schools.

The top mark has been decreasing since 2019. In 2020, the top candidate scored 433 marks, a decrease from the 440 top mark recorded in 2019.

Prof Magoha however said overall performance improved compared to 2020. The mean average performance and quality of grades for all candidates improved in the 2021 examination. “For example, whereas 8,091 candidates scored between 400 and 500 marks in the 2020 KCPE, the number increased to 11,857 in the 2021 KCPE,” said the CS.

However, the number of candidates who scored between one and 99 marks increase to 1,170 up from 307 in the 2020 exam.

On special needs learners, Bethany Tahillah Migosi topped with 417 marks. Candidates with special needs were 2,483 in the 2021 exam compared to 2,675 in 2020.

Prof Magoha highlighted gains of the education sector under President Mr Uhuru Kenyatta. According to Prof Magoha, key achievements that will define Mr Kenyatta’s legacy include restoring integrity of national exams, introducing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), construction of classrooms, and providing scholarships to needy learners.

On subjects, Prof Magoha announced that English Composition, Kiswahili Lugha, Kiswahili Insha, Kenyan Sign Language Composition, Science and Social Studies papers recorded improvement performance compared to 2020.

However, Mathematics, English Language and Religious Education papers recorded a drop in performance. “Female candidates performed slightly better than their male counterparts in English and Kiswahili. Male candidates performed slightly better than their female counterparts in Kenyan Sign Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies and Religious Education,” said Prof Magoha.

He also announced that some 11,523 registered candidates did not sit the exam, compared to 12,424 absent in the 2020 tests.

Prof Magoha said all the 1,214,031 candidates would move to secondary schools. “The Ministry has put in place measures to ensure the selection exercise is conducted soonest... given the next academic calendar is heavily shortened,” he said, adding that the selection process would be completed in two-week time.

Prof Magoha announced that some 9,000 vulnerable and needy children would benefit from the Elimu Scholarship Programme.

The number of candidates who did the exam under special circumstances, including in hospitals, decreased from 1,240 in 2020 to 1,067.

Even with heavy security, some 320 students in seven centres were found cheating. This is a significant increase from the recorded cases in the 2020, where seven candidates were found in possession of notes in examination rooms, and five cases of impersonation were recorded.

The CS said candidates who colluded in cheating would get zero marks in the specific subjects. “There will be a price to pay and we shall punish the children and teachers. All the children, including those caught cheating, will transit to secondary schools,” he said.

The CS however denied any leakage of the tests prior to the exam period. “Teachers only took photos of the exam papers after leaving the container and circulated them, but students were already in class. We have banned phones in exam rooms, but if you choose to put your career on the line and take money to aid in cheating, be prepared to face consequences,” he said.

Prof Magoha said once investigations on cheating were done, disciplinary actions, including sacking teachers involved, would follow.

Out of the 1,214,031, candidates, 610,384 were boys and 603,647 girls, representing a 50.2 and 49.7 per cent respectively. The numbers went up by 19,934 for boys and 14,905 girls compared to those in 2020.

Overall, candidature in the 2021 KCPE exam increased by 34,839 (2.9 per cent) from 1,179,192 in 2020.

During the 2021 KCPE examination, 12 counties registered more female than male candidates. They are Mombasa, Meru, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Kisumu and Siaya.

In 2020, up to 20 counties, including the 12 counties above, registered more female than male candidates.

The number of candidates aged 12 and below was 33,627, an increase from 26,378 in 2020.

The counties that recorded highest entry for underage candidates were Baringo (1,302), Bomet (1,932), Kericho (1,846), West Pokot (947) and Nyamira (1,111).

The counties that had the highest entry of candidates aged 19 or above were Turkana (2,755), Garissa (1,484), Kilifi (3,304), Kwale (1,940), and Mandera (386). These counties, except for Mandera, recorded a similar trend in the 2020 KCPE examination.

Prof Magoha instructed headteachers to release the results to all candidates, regardless of fee balance or other issues.

As pioneers of the CBC transition to Grade Six in May, Prof Magoha said teachers had been trained and were prepared for the rollout. He said many more would be trained in April in preparation for the Junior Secondary School that starts in 2023.

Further, he announced that 6,497 classrooms had been constructed to accommodate the CBC pioneers ahead of the start of Junior Secondary School next year.

In the first phase, Prof Magoha said government had spent Sh5.123 billion in construction of the classes, each at a cost of Sh788,000. About 3,5032 classes are to be built in the second phase to hit the 10,000 target before the end of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.