Knec to rank top, bottom schools

The best and worst schools will be known on Monday when Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination results are released. (Read: KCPE results out on Monday)

In a departure from tradition, the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) will also name institutions that promote holistic learning. Education Permanent Secretary George Godia said on Sunday the move was aimed at encouraging school administrators to shift their focus from excelling in KCPE exams at the expense of other aspects of learning such as social, physical, spiritual growth and creativity.

Education minister Mutula Kilonzo will announce the top performers nationally at the KNEC offices at Mitihani House in Nairobi at around 10am Monday.

Top education officials from each county are expected to collect the results of 811,930 candidates who sat the KCPE exams last year.

While KCPE results are usually released towards the end of December, the teachers’ strike which affected the third term last year delayed the announcement.

Last year, Christine Muthoni Kagiri of Tender Care Academy in Nairobi’s Komarock Estate and Martin Waiharo of Moi Educational Centre in Nairobi’s South C tied at the top position after scoring 442 marks.

Some 776,214 candidates were tested during in 2011.

The top school in the country was Gilgil Hills Academy with a mean score of 410 marks out of 500.

The best ranking public school was Kathigiri Academy in Meru with a mean score of 395.8 out of 500, and it was not even among the top 10 institutions nationally.

KCPE exams top performance is often dominated by pupils from private schools.

Kirinyaga County emerged top nationally in the ranking based on counties, followed by Nandi, Makueni, Uasin Gishu, Busia and Baringo.

Parents and candidates will be able to get their results through the mobile phone by sending their index numbers to 5052.

This service will, however, be available only after the completion of the minister’s official event.

Upon receipt of the results, candidates will have 30 days to scrutinise them for discrepancies and lodge complaints with KNEC.

These result slip details include the candidate’s name, index number and gender, school name, code and the grades obtained in each of the subjects.

“After the release, candidates are advised to collect their exam results from their respective centres where they registered,” KNEC secretary Paul Wasanga said.

He went on: “Candidates who have their results withheld will receive a letter through their head teachers explaining why the results have been withheld.”

He noted that candidates involved in exam irregularities will have their results cancelled and informed in writing through their head teachers.

A record 8,000 pupils from 334 primary schools had their results cancelled last year due to cheating, an increase from the previous year when 1,103 cases in 68 schools were recorded.

Migori County led the pack in the list of the cheaters followed by Kakamega, Homa Bay and Nairobi.
Nyeri, Turkana, Laikipia and Busia counties recorded no cases of cheating.

Pupils from private schools generally perform better than their public schools counterparts because they have more teachers, smaller classes and better facilities. Private schools have also been accused of encouraging rote-learning by teaching their pupils how to answer questions without necessarily encouraging them to learn the content.

Many top performers are also expected to join national schools this year as the government increased the number of such institutions to 78, up from 48.

Form One selection is expected to start immediately the results are announced.