Explain to parents why you banned ranking, principals tell Jacob Kaimenyi
Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi speaks to reporters during the release of the 2014 KCSE exam results at Mitihani House in Nairobi on March 3, 2015. If nothing drastic is done to alter the southward trajectory the education sector has taken, then we are headed for the doldrums. Prospects are bleak, to say the least. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Kenya Secondary Schools Heads’ Association chairman John Awiti on Thursday said parents were not aware of the reasons behind the ban.
Chemelil Academy Principal Charles Ogada said ranking inspired competition that motivated students and teachers to work hard.
Mr Awiti criticised the media for going against the Ministry of Education’s directive by ranking schools.
Secondary school principals have called for national dialogue on the ban on ranking of schools in national exams, saying it has denied the public critical information.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads’ Association chairman John Awiti on Tuesday said parents were not aware of the reasons behind the ban.
“Lack of ranking has made the release of the results an anti-climax. Kenyans have been used to the recognition of schools and students who have done well and obviously there are questions now that the ranking is banned,” said Mr Awiti, who is also the principal of St Mary’s Yala.
“In case there are reasons for the ban, they need to be explained well,” he added.
INSPIRED COMPETITION
Chemelil Academy Principal Charles Ogada said ranking inspired competition, which motivated students and teachers to work hard.
“I am disappointed because the ministry chose to focus on the negative aspects and ignored the positive side despite having more weight,” he said.
Mr Awiti criticised the media for going against the Ministry of Education’s directive by ranking schools.
“Depending on the individual principals’ data to compute, the ranking might be erroneous. The media should ask the examinations council for the information,” he added.
Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, while releasing the KCSE results on Tuesday, reiterated that schools are not at the same level in terms of resources and, therefore, cannot be ranked.
“Three reports had recommended the ban of ranking of schools and the ministry just implemented them. We did not wake up one morning and banned ranking,” Prof Kaimenyi said.
However, Mr Ongaja said the government should address the challenges that affect healthy competition and continue ranking schools.
14 A PLAIN
St Mary’s Yala, where Mr Awiti is the principal, had 19 students with A-plain, 53 A- (Minus), 48 B + (plus), 41 B (plain), 31 B- (minus), 22 C+ (plus), 9 C (Plain).
The school had 223 candidates.
Chemelil recorded a mean score of 10.9, the best performance ever achieved since it started registering students for KCSE in 2001.
Out of its 89 candidates, 14 attained A (plain), 43 had A (minus), 27 got B+ (plus), seven had B (plain) while only one got B-.
“We attribute our success to our excellent parents. There are several academic programmes that they are funding other than the normal curriculum … ” said Mr Ongaja.
Purity Cherotich emerged the best candidate with 84 points.
