We did it! Top subject teachers take pride in best KCSE results

Mr Julius Ndege, the Alliance Boys High School History teacher could not hide his joy following the good results posted by his candidates.

His class emerged the top with a mean score of 11.15, compared to 10.58 posted in 2013. Of 141 candidates, 94 scored A, 34 A-, 11 B+, one B and a C+.

“I am happy that the 2014 History class did extremely well,” he says. Ndege, who has been at the institution since 2004, says the department coordinates well and the teachers strive to cover the syllabus on time to allow for adequate time for revision.

Kapsabet Boys did not only shine in the overall performance, but also posted good results and disapproved the myth that boys are naturally weak in languages.

For two years running, the institution has clinched top positions in Kiswahili. In 2013, they were ranked first nationally with a mean score of 11.76.

They even posted better results in 2014 with a mean score of 11.81.

Patrick Mandila, who spoke on behalf of Form Four Kiswahili teachers, attributed the consistent excellent performance to a supportive administration and cooperation among teachers.

Of the 248 students, 214 scored A, 21 A-, 12 B+ with only one student scoring a B- Mr James Kabaraka, was posted to Asumbi Girls High School 14 years ago as a Physics teacher.

This was his first working station, and he does not intend to change soon. He posted best results in the schools’ subjects ranking, attaining a performance index of 11.88.

Kabaraka, who also doubles up as the games and sports master, says the girls posted exemplary grades because of their attitude towards science subjects.

“We have made it a habit to have the girls take a Physics quiz every day,” he says.

Although she is employed by the Board of Management, Phoebe Bulimo’s subject topped in last year’s KCSE.

Bulimo is an Agriculture teacher at St Anthony Boys High School Kitale, which featured among the top ten, with a mean grade of 10.827. Agriculture was ranked position one in the overall performance, with a mean grade of 11.756. The Kenya Technical Training College graduate, attributed thorough coverage of topics from Form One to Form Four and frequent assessment tests, which she says was aimed to jog her students’ memory for outstanding results.

Bulimo says she also exposed her students to frequent practical lessons to enhance their understanding and to help them get familiar with frequently asked questions. Of her 39 students, 33 scored A, four A-, one B+ and B. She has been in the school since 2009.

Besides attaining a mean grade of 10.91, Chemelil Academy also posted what could possibly be the best results in Chemistry nationally.

The 89 candidates, who sat for the paper, posted a mean grade of 11.5, 0.5 points shy from the maximum 12.

The institution has been recording a steady improvement since 2011, where they scored a mean of 7.6, 8.9 in 2012, 9.6 in 2013 and 11.5 last year. With Mr Simon Ogal and Mr Daniel Mogaka, steering the Chemistry wheel, their target for this year is 11.8.

The teachers also organised weekly practical lessons to sharpen the students’ skills in preparation for Chemistry Paper Three.

Nairobi School was also among the best performing schools in Biology with 11.89 mean score.

Antonina Otieno says the secret to attaining a high grade is to give weak students special attention so that they are at the same level with the rest.

Some 218 students out of 316 scored an A in the examinations, a record at the school. The school has a daily ‘subject hour’, during which students concentrate on one subject. This, Otieno says, has helped students understand the subject content, and also learn how to answer questions properly. Despite being the only Agriculture teacher at Maseno School since 2013, Susan Okello has continued to produce excellent results in KCSE, with the subject ranking top in two successive years in the school.

They attained a mean score of 11.80 this year, up from last year’s 11.75. Of 15 students who sat the paper, 13 had A , 1 A- and 1 B+.