Top performers elated as Jacob Kaimenyi announces KCPE examination results
Terry Sidi who scored 428 marks in this year’s Standard Eight national exams is carried by her colleagues at St Kevin Hill School in Nyali, Mombasa on December 29, 2014. The performance of a secondary school in Kwale has laid bare how low education standards in the county have sunk. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- Heads of schools and parents in various parts of the country celebrate.
- Some heads express disappointment at the ministry’s decision not to rank schools according to the tests.
Heads of schools and parents in various parts of the country broke into celebrations after Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi released the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination results.
In Uasin Gishu, the top candidate at Hill School, Isabella Onganga had 420 marks with 10 others scoring above 400 marks.
Headteacher Emel Busienei said this year’s results were far much better than last year’s. The top pupil then scored 406 marks.
“We are happy for the efforts of the pupils, parents and teachers for we managed to get a mean score of 335,” Ms Busienei said.
In West Pokot County, the top pupil at Makutano Central Primary School, Elvis Kiprotich, scored 417 marks.
Four others in the same school registered more than 400 marks.
In Bungoma, two pupils were celebrating after attaining above 400 marks. Marell Academy’s Sarah Owoko, 14, scored 428 marks.
“My dream is to become a paediatrician. I will work hard to make this a reality,” she said.
At Bungoma DEB Primary School, Wilberforce Odera who had 423 marks said: “I expected higher scores but I’m happy as this shows my efforts were not in vain.”
In Bomet, Chelsa Academy’s Naomi Chepkirui scored 433 marks closely followed by Linda Chepkirui with 432. Attempts to get comments of Tenwek Day and Sotik Academies’ heads were fruitless.
In Meru County, Celine Kendi Kailanya, 14, of Friends School was elated on learning that she had scored 430 marks.
“It is everyone’s joy that befitting celebrations are thrown for them once they perform well,” she said.
Aldrick Mwongale Shanyuma of Gilgil Academy in Nakuru County scored 430 marks.
'TOUGH EXAM'
In Makueni County, Premese Makueni Academy’s David Kiema scored 431 marks. Kiema said he worked hard and spared some time for play.
Sylvia Wanja Onchieku of Kari Mwailu Day and Boarding Primary School scored 428 marks. “It was a tough exam and I wasn’t sure I would perform this well,” she said.
In Naivasha, High Peak Junior Academy’s Linet Waithera had 437 marks followed by Felistus Waithera with 436 and Samson Gikonyo 432.
Last year, the best candidate scored 427 marks out of a possible 500.
Little Friends Junior Academy director Francis Gichuki said it was not fair to ban ranking schools on the basis of KCPE examination.
According to Mr Gichuki, ranking promoted a healthy competition among candidates and schools.
“It has affected the morale of the pupils and parents. In spite of the good grades, you can see the atmosphere is gloomy,” he said.
In Kirinyaga, 13-year-old Leah Njeri Wanjohi from Effort Junior Boarding Primary School scored 433 marks. She was all smiles as she celebrated with her parents, fellow candidates and teachers in the school.
“I was cleaning our house in the village when my mother informed me that I had scored high marks in KCPE and was probably the best in the county,” she said.
In Garissa, Mnara Junior Academy’s Hanan Mohamud Yussuf scored 416 marks. “Despite the challenges in preparing our pupils for the test, we performed beyond anybody’s expectations,” said deputy headteacher Washington Lihanda.
In Machakos Kiprono Nixon of Premise Academy scored 427 marks while Machakos Primary’s Mwikali Angeline got 411 marks.
—Reports by Everlyne Simiyu, Raphael Wanjala, Geoffrey Rono. Macharia Mwangi, James Ngunjiri, Abdimalik Hajir, George Munene and Stephen Muthini
