Teachers exude confidence on exams

Teachers, students and parents across the country are waiting with bated breath for Tuesday’s release of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination results.

At St Mary’s Yala, the principal exuded confidence that this year’s performance would be better, given the calibre of students they had.“Last years class was quite impressive and we hope to improve on 8.7 mean grade we posted last year,’’ he said.

But at Ng’iya Girls, teachers were reluctant to give their comments. “Why don’t we wait for the real thing before we talk? It is very tricky to be filled with hope and end up crying,’’ said one teacher. Orero Secondary School Principal Maurice Ndolo said the had worked on their internet connectivity to get their results faster.

At Kakamega High, teachers and students were upbeat that the school would post better results this year.“We put in our best and have no doubt that the KCSE results will reflect a tremendous improvement compared to those of last year,” said the principal mr Oliver Minish.

Students and teachers at Mukumu Girls, Chavakali High, Butere Girls, St Peters Mumias, Butere Girls and Bunyore Girls were also hopeful ahead of the release of the results by Education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri. Western provincial director of education Kenneth Misoi and the provincial examinations officer, Mr Omar Masimba, said efforts had been made to improve results in poorly performing schools.

Principals of secondary schools in Central Province also expect improved results. A total of 61,099 candidates sat the examination in the province last year. “We prepared them well, we have no reason to fear they will not perform,” said the region’s chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Head Association, Mr Elija Nguyo.

Head teachers said last year was relatively calm in the region’s schools, with slightly less than 10 cases of unrest recorded. Student unrest was blamed for poor performance in 2008. The teachers are upbeat this will translate to better results. “The hope is high, but I cannot predict the results,” said Mr Mwendia Kariuki, the principal of Kianyaga Boys’ High School.

Principals of most schools in the North Rift region also expressed optimism ahead of results. “Our candidates were well prepared for the examination and we expect to perform better than the previous years,” said Peter Obwogo of Saint Joseph’s Boys High school, Kitale.

The mood was the same at Kapsabet Boys, Moi Girls Eldoret, Uasin Gishu Secondary and St Patrick’s High school, Iten. “Our expectation is high and we hope to get 60 out of the 163 candidates who sat the examination scoring above B plus,” said Saint Patrick’s principal Alex Oyuga.

The mood was equally high at Ngeria secondary school with principal Patricia Nandi expressing optimism they would perform better this year. Some secondary schools in Nakuru expressed optimism on the outcome of the examinations. The management of Nakuru High School, one of the oldest in the country, said it was likely to bounce back to national limelight.

The school’s principal John Kirui was hopeful that this time they will feature among the top 20 school. Last year it was ranked 54th countrywide. It was the same case at Menengai High School where the principal, Mr David Gweyani, and teachers prepared for the outcome of the exams on Tuesday.

Menengai had the highest number of candidates in Nakuru Town. The school is among the best in the Rift Valley Province and Mr Gweyani is optimistic that they would perform well this time. Top performers of previous form four examinations were on Monday confident that they will record even better results.

At Starehe Boys Centre and State House Girls in Nairobi, students and teachers were anxiously awaiting the results. At Starehe Boys, the principal, Mr Paul Mugo, said whatever the outcome, their students will first converge at the school chapel for prayers, as was the norm.

The same sentiments were shared by Mrs Anne Kiragu, the Acting principal of State House Girls high school. “We are really looking forward to an improvement in our mean score,” she told the Nation on Monday.

Reported by Muchiri Karanja, Benson Amadala, Barnabas Bii, Maurice Kaluoch and Dave Opiyo