Public schools in Mt Kenya give academies a run for their money

Parents, teachers, and pupils celebrate Cynthia Wanjiku at Vidhu Ramji Primary School in Murang’a. She scored 423 marks, and wants to become a doctor. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

Pupils from public schools in the Mt Kenya region posted good results in the 2019 primary examinations after years of dominance from their private counterparts.

While the country's top student, Andy Michael Munyiri, was from the private Damacrest Schools in Kiambu County, public schools generally showed massive improvement, especially boarding institutions. 

Perennial top performers such as Kathingiri Boarding in Meru County, and Technology Primary School in Murang’a town did not disappoint, sending a warning to private academies in the region.

At PCEA Kathingiri Public Mixed Boarding Primary School in Igoji South Imenti, at least 27 out of the 43 candidates scored more than 400 marks.

Top performers at the public school include Arnold Mutwiri with 433 marks, Vincent Mwirigi with 432 marks, and Timothy Mandela and Queen Nkatha who tied at 428 marks. Nancy Kimunyi and Cynthia Kathomi both scored 427 marks. Munyiri scored 440 marks to top the 1,088,986 candidates who sat this year’s examinations.

Kathigiri headteacher Joselyne Mugambi was excited about the results, though she says the announcement on Monday caught them unawares.

“The teachers, pupils, parents and support staff and other stakeholders were in this together. The success is due to the team spirit we built,” she said, adding that despite the school being public, it continued to dominate in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.

Work ethics

Ms Mugambi added that the work ethic adopted by the school's teachers and pupils was evidenced by the fact that nearly 30 of their candidates scored more than 400 marks.

At the Technology Primary School, 22 students got more than 400 marks. Headteacher Beatrice Wachira said co-operation between teachers and parents had beautifully capped what had been a difficult year. 

“As a school, we wish to thank the parents for ensuring that the learners were comfortable to learn and achieve their full potential,” she said.

Her candidates included Wandia Maryannie Wangechi, who was among the top students nationally with 432 marks, while Lucas Kambugua scored 424, Diana Wanjiru Kareri posted 422 and Gachunji Victor Gichuki got 413.

And rural public primary schools were not left behind when it came to posting good results. Kinyua Nkatha Tereza and Muthomi Mukami Jackline, both from Njogune Primary School in Meru, tied at 402. From Igembe South, which tends to trail, Kinya Petronila scored 403 marks at Amwamba Primary School.

But in keeping with tradition, private schools in Meru gave the region some of its best results. Fred Academy and Meru Saleem Academy in Meru town emerged top, with PCEA Ngenda in Gatundu South, St Christopher’s School in Nanyuki, Highlands Academy in Buuri, Meru County and Keruguoya Good Shepherd Academy also performing impressively.

Further, at St Christopher School in Nanyuki, out of a class of 77 candidates, 35 got at least 400 marks. At Meru Saleem Academy, more than 10 pupils in a class of 50 had over 400 marks.

At Fred’s School, top performers included Githui Alex Gitonga with 418 marks, followed by Njoki Sarah Wanjugu with 412 marks, while Mburugu Destiny Gakenga and Mwongera Maryann Makena tied at 400.

At Keruguoya Good Shepherd, Sheila Muthoni Nyaga scored 426, Bundi Rimaiyo Kuiyanda 423, Kiega Abigael Kabura had 422, Maina Kaisy Margaret 421, Gitahi Alvin Muriithi 415, Gaicabu Effie Wanjiku 411, Wairimu Tyra Wanjiru 410 and Murimi Crispin Ngande 407.

Stood out

At Lily Academy in Mwihoko, Ruiru, Zulfa Hussein scored 413, Rahma Nguyo 411, Nikitta Muthoni  404, Allan Kimani 402, and Mark Gichuhi 401 marks.

Kamau Rick Warren stood out at St Emmanuel Academy in Kigumo Constituency with 435 marks.

At Precision Kids Academy in Igembe South, Blessing Kinya topped the charts at 424, followed by Vincent Muthaura and Yvonne Mbabu at 414, while Ian Ruto had 404 marks ahead of Edwin Kimathi with 400 marks.

Kiambu, Meru, and Murang'a registered the highest number of KCPE candidates in the Mt Kenya region, with Kiambu leading with  41,651 candidates, while Meru and Murang'a registered 35,2019 and 26,649 candidates, respectively.

According to data from the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec), Kiambu had 103 candidates with special needs, Meru had 92 and Murang'a 32. Embu, Nyeri, and Kirinyaga had 30, 28 and 25 special needs candidates, respectively.

Seventy-three candidates sat the exam from prison in Nyeri, Murang'a and Meru, while 15 candidates took their exam from hospital rooms across the region, according to KNEC data.  

[Wainaina Ndung’u, Lydia Nyawira, Boniface Gikandi, Jacinta Mutura, Phares Mutembei, Darlington Manyara]