Public schools miss out among Eastern’s giants

By JOB WERU

Private schools performed well in Eastern Province, taking nine slots in the top 100 nationally.

Consolata Primary School Gitooro in Imenti North produced Eastern’s top candidate Moses Mbaabu Kiaira, who scored 432 marks.

Eugene Muthomi from Ruiru Central Academy followed with 432 marks.

Kamuthatha Boarding, a public school in Embu District produced the best girl in the province, Elizabeth Muriithi Njoki, with 431 marks.

The school also posted the 12th best candidate in Eastern, Wyclef Bironga, who had 425 marks.

In the public schools ranking, only Kamuthatha Boarding, Kathigiri Boarding, Machakos Primary and ACK Wote Township produced candidates in the top 100 candidates list.

Provincial ranking

Kathigiri Boarding had three candidates followed by Kamuthatha with two candidates in top 100 provincial ranking.

In private schools, Lion’s Embu and CottonLengo Boarding, a private school in Igembe North, produced two candidates each in the top 100 ranking.

Embu topped other districts in the province, with Kamuthatha and Lion’s Embu producing the third and sixth best candidates.

Kenya National Union of Teachers Assistant Secretary General Xavier Nyamu attributed the decline in public schools’ performance to understaffing.

"How can you expect pupils to perform while even the funds meant for the Free Primary Education are swindled," he said.

Speaking to The Standard on the telephone, Nyamu added: "Even parents are to blame since those with children in public schools have abdicated their roles of disciplining learners."

Eastern Provincial Director of Education P Gitau and Embu Education Officer William M’Birichi declined to comment.

"We are still analysing the results and it would be too early to comment since we are yet to know which school performed well," said Mr Gitau.

He said he had held a meeting with District Education Officers and that examination officers were working on the results.

Mr Nyamu added some private schools were registering weak pupils in public schools so as to steal the show during national examinations.

He said the Government had its share of blame in the lukewarm performance by public schools.

"The classrooms are congested, while the Government does not take education as a priority while disbursing funds to ministries," he said.

He added: "It is worrying that many slots in best performing national schools will go to pupils who were in private schools, meaning children from poor backgrounds will never get chances in good secondary schools".