Kenyan student tops the world in IGCSE exams

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By Augustine Oduor

An international examinations board has ranked Kenyan students the region’s best.

The recognition came as two Kenyan students were awarded after beating thousands of students across the world to top in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

Edexcel, an examination board in UK, attributed the success to the country’s robust investment in education.

Akash Praful Shah of Oshwal Academy in Nairobi scored 11A* (star) and three As in IGCSE to emerge the best in the world.

Hirani Pankaj Harish Chandra of SCLP Samaj School also scooped 6A* and two As in the A-level examinations to rank as one of two best students.

IGCSE is an equivalent of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. The examination leads to ‘A’ levels, which is a pre-university qualification leading to first or second year university education.

Edexcel Country Director for Africa, Ian Yoel, said the Kenyan education system is respected for its role in the continued production of top academicians. Mr Yoel spoke in Nairobi during a top achievers’ award ceremony for some 160 students who sat the IGCSE exams.

Good performance

Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) Secretary Paul Wasanga and Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi were also present at the function that saw several other students awarded for exemplary performance in various subjects, including accounting, information technology and art and design.

Mr Wasanga said his council works closely with the Edexcel board and 14 other examining bodies as they offer international examinations in Kenyan schools.

"We ensure the board disseminates examinations under proper conditions," he said.

Edexcel East Africa Regional Development Manager, Sushila Bakhda, said Knec provided inspectors in all the schools that sat the examinations. She said the board offered about 38 subjects for IGCSE qualification to 45 schools in East Africa.

"Students may choose their subjects according to their liking and ability. They can also enter these examinations as private candidates through Knec," she said.

Wasanga described Edexcel as a reputable body that offered high quality examinations, adding that Knec was privileged to work with it.

"We have continued to work closely and this has seen the two councils grow together in disseminating high quality examinations," he said.