Kisumu, Kenya: Self-drive and discipline among teachers and students, and cohesion in the school management is the secret to Arina Primary School's success.
Arina, established in 1973 and located along the Nyamasaria and Kondele-Kisian by-pass, has beaten the odds to emerge one of the top performing schools in Kisumu County owing to its trend in the last 12 years.
With a current student population of 1,546, the institution continues to churn out quality candidates and at the same time nurture talent, from sports to drama and music.
Speaking yesterday at the her office, Head Teacher Mary Onyango who is three months old at the institution after replacing Mr John Odeny, said they have had a steady increase in their mean score each year, with fluctuations once in a while.
The Anglican-sponsored school has seen transformation from 2001 when the mean score was 279.96 to 346.51 in 2014.
The school recorded a mean score of 346.51, a slight drop from 2013's 356.46, but higher than 2012 where the school recorded 345.45.
The school enrolled 105 candidates last year and out of this, five scored 400 marks and above with the top student, Otieno Michael Onyango, getting 422 marks out of the possible 500.
Those who scored between 350 and 399 were 48, 41 got 300 to 349 marks, while 11 scored below 300.
"The candidate who got the least marks scored 263, which is above average," said Ms Onyango.
The institution has maintained a position between two and 10 best performing schools in Kisumu, with the final one being six, before the Ministry of Education scrapped ranking in schools last year.
The school head said despite the ban on academic ranking, the institution had emerged second among public schools, only beaten by M M Shah in the Central Kisumu zone.
She said determination from both teachers and students had contributed much to the school's success.
"My teachers know their work, which they take seriously and with passion, thus producing results," said Ms Onyango.
QUALITY GRADES
She said they emphasise to their students that they should aim for not only passes but for quality grades so that effort is put in every subject.
"We co-ordinate with parents so that they monitor the children's school work at home," she added.
What has got the school ticking is their constitution of an assessment panel which checks what teachers have achieved or are not doing right.
"The panel usually gives its feedback to the individual teachers so that they improve on areas they are not performing well," said Ms Onyango.
The school's board chairman Edwin Owaka said the institution's success is as a result of understanding and cohesion among all stakeholders.
"Parents, sponsors and Government institutions have been supporting us and the consensus we arrive at after push and pull between us has been our greatest weapon," he said.
Mr Owaka described the tranquil environment the school provides as a good one for the pupils to produce outstanding results.
The institution is also performing exceptionally in co-curricula activities, with trophies displayed at the head teacher's office a testimony of its achievement.
They have been awarded for best performances nationally in academics, and in drama and music festivals.
Arina has also been recognised as the best school for infrastructural development and Kisumu Open Taekwondo championship.
Ms Onyango, however, lists high enrollment of students to the school as a major challenge, owing to the shortage of at least 10 teachers.
She said they have had to bring on board teachers under the Teachers Service Commission to partner with those employed by the Parents Teacher Association to bridge the shortage gap.
Arina, being close to the informal settlements of Manyatta, has enrolled many orphans and this, Ms Onyango said, has posed another challenge to the school.
"Those who are vulnerable are the ones who perform well. But sometimes they can't make it to school because they do not have food to eat and cannot afford few learning materials," she said.
She urged sponsors to help keep bright but needy learners in school.
