Public schools reclaim lost glory as more candidates score highly

Public schools in Mt Kenya region and its environs defied odds to post impressive results in the KCPE 2021 exam results.

There were also surprise performances registered by Ngukwine Primary in Meru ranked as the most improved school nationally.

Their private counterparts, however, continued to dominate by producing excellent scores. The public schools include Moi Primary in Thika, Technology Primary in Murangá, Karatina DEB and Moi Nyeri Complex as well as Kathigiri Boarding and Kanyakine Boarding in Meru County.

Moi Primary in Thika and Moi Nyeri Complex were among the model schools set up by President Daniel Moi in the 1980s.

At Moi Primary Gatanga, head teacher David Maina said five candidates scored 400 marks and above. Mr Maina said the school had 29 candidates with who scored above 380 marks. At Vidhu Ramji Primary in Murangá town, 11 candidates attained over 400 marks, 81 with between 350 and 399 marks, and 59 others with between 300 and 349 marks. Headmaster Mr Michael Wamwaki said the best candidate had 420 marks.

At Technology Primary, head teacher Ms Beatrice Wachira reported the school had obtained a mean score of 346, with 11 candidates posting above 400 marks.

In the result analysis, 88 candidates scored between 300 marks and 399 marks. Mirira Primary in the rural parts of the lower constituency produced four candidates with more than 400 marks for the first time.

In Meru, Kanyakine Boys Boarding registered a 12.4 mark improvement. Head teacher Edward Murithi said: “We attribute the impressive performance to early syllabus coverage and completion and a conducive learning environment.” The top performers with 400 marks and above increased from 11 in the 2020 KCPE to 12.

But it was Kathingiri Boarding that exceeded expectations. The school which had registered 107 candidates had 53 score more than 400 marks.