Ban on exam ranking dulls KCPE celebrations at top performing schools

Top performing schools in Nairobi County in the 2013 KCPE exam Monday celebrated their results hesitantly, not sure whether theirs were the best candidates.

At St Mary’s School and Lily Academy in Nairobi, no plans had been made to celebrate the performance of their top candidates, who scored 437 and 435 marks respectively, as Education Cabinet Secretary Jocob Kaimenyi did not reveal how individual schools and candidates performed.

“We do not know whether our candidate is the best and so we have had no plans to celebrate.

The lack of ranking for schools will end unethical practices in schools but it is unfair to the students because they have nothing to motivate them,” said St Mary’s School headteacher Mr Paul Mwangi.

However, the school celebrated the performance of their leading pupil in the 2014 KCPE exams, Brian Mutethia, 14, who aspires to become a doctor, after leading his class with 437 marks out of the possible 500 marks.

“It is as a result of constant prayers and support from my family and teachers that I managed to perform well,” said an excited Mutethia.

His mother, Ms Judith Nkatha, said she was elated by her son’s performance, whom she described as obedient, hardworking and a role model to his younger siblings.

At Lily Academy, celebrations were low key, with teachers and school managers not sure how their school or candidates had comparatively performed, and were waiting to do their own rankings, which they would compare with those of other schools in Nairobi County.

They, however, celebrated their top candidate Claudius Odhiambo, 14, who scored 435 marks and hopes to join Maseno High School and later become an engineer.

“I really did not expect to top my class but I thank God for what I have achieved,” he said.

The school’s headteacher Ms Ann Muturi, said the pupil was hard working and had even promised his parents and teachers that he would perform well.