Top student at Light Academy stayed out of school for a year

The top student at Light Academy ,who scored all As was a scholarship student and was out of school for an entire year due to poor health.

Zacharia Ndung’u, who had a perfect score of 84 points, would have sat the examination in 2014 had he not fallen ill.

“When I fell sick, I could not continue with my studies. I registered for the exam again in 2015 and I am delighted with the results,” said the 20-year-old.

His mother, Ms Monica Gathoni, said Zacharia fell ill in the last term of Form Three in 2013 and was in and out of hospital for most of 2014.

He spent five months in hospitals in Nairobi.

CASUAL LABOURER

“His treatment was expensive and I am grateful to Light Academy for holding a harambee to raise funds for his treatment.

“They also allowed him to stay in school for four months while he was recovering because conditions at home were not conducive,” she said.

Zacharia went back to school in September 2014 although he did not attend classes due to the delicate state of his health.

Ms Gathoni, a casual labourer in Uthiru, told the Nation that she could not afford to educate her son and sought help from Light Academy, which sponsored him for the four years he was at the school.

“I am hopeful that he will be able to go to university to continue his studies as he is a very bright boy,” she said.

“I initially thought I would do actuarial science but I am reconsidering and I have yet to make a decision,” he said with a shy smile.