Primary schools’ performance analysis shows worrying trend

By JOACKIM BWANA

Mombasa, Kenya: Public primary schools in Mombasa did not perform as well as private schools in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.

This is according to a statistical analysis carried out by Hatua Likoni, a community based non-governmental organisation that seeks to promote education and employment in Likoni through scholarships, mentoring and career guidance.

The analysis carried out on public and private schools in Likoni, Mvita, Kisauni, Changamwe and Nyali indicates that the transition level from primary to secondary school is still low since a majority of pupils who sit KCPE end up missing slots in secondary schools due to poor performance.

Founder and director for Hatua Likoni, Gabrielle Fondiller, who prepared the analysis said about 10,000 students are likely to miss admission into secondary school due to low marks and lack of schools to enroll them.

The analysis indicates that out of 15,695 KCPE candidates in all the 88 public and private primary schools, 12,490 candidates scored below 250 marks.

POOR PERFORMANCE

Of the 6,468 candidates who sat KCPE exams in private schools, 81 boys and 47 girls scored above 400 marks while only 10 boys and 11 girls out of 9,227 candidates from public schools attained above 400 marks.

“This analysis clearly shows that a very small percentage of pupils in both public and private schools perform well and get admission into secondary school. This should prompt all education stakeholders into taking action,” Gabrielle said.

She said compared to boys, girls are not performing well adding that this has greatly contributed to a culture that does not give priority to the girl child’s education.

According to the analysis, 50 per cent of boys scored above 250 marks compared to 45 per cent of girls while 45 per cent of boys and 54 per cent of girls scored below the average mark.

The analysis further shows that 227 candidates scored below 100 marks while 138 missed results.

Among the best performing primary schools in the five constituencies within Mombasa were Kenya Navy, Maji Safi and Inspiration Primary School, which had a percentage mean score of 52, 51 and 49 respectively.

Shika Adabu, Likoni for The Blind and Mwangale Primary School were ranked last with a mean score of nine, six and four per cent respectively.

WELL WISHERS

Gabrielle says Hatua Likoni has already distributed scholarship fund application letters to 19 public school heads in Likoni this year and all bright and needy students are encouraged to apply.

“With help from our generous well-wishers, Hatua will add 45 students to the Scholarship Fund. Of these students 35 will be joining Form One and 10 from other class levels,” Gabrielle said.

The NGO’s efforts complement those already taken by the county government. In a bid to support bright and needy students in Mombasa, County Governor Hassan Joho released Sh60 million in bursary funds.

The funds are to be distributed in the county’s 30 wards and each ward is to receive Sh2 million.

In a past forum with education stakeholders in Mombasa during the governor’s annual award  dubbed “Elimu Kwanza, Elimu ya Milele” meant to reward and motivate best performing students and schools in the county, the governor said the county was gearing to improve on the performance levels in schools and standards of education as a whole.

IMPROVED TRANSITION

“We will put up more secondary and city polytechnics to up the transition level from primary school to secondary and tertiary level and reduce on the number of students who fail to proceed to the next level in the education system,” Joho said.

During the forum Joho challenged students to put more effort in their education since devolution has created a lot of opportunities for them that requires professionals and experts.

Gabrielle said for education performance levels to improve, parents and teachers have to take keen interest in the students’ school life.