Ikombe Day falls as private schools lead in KCPE

Ikombe Day and Boarding School Headteacher Munyao Mbondo (Centre) shows teachers and parents a list of KCPE results at the school on November 19, 2019. [John Muia, Standard]

Ikombe Day and Boarding, the best school nationwide in last year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination, saw its performance drop sharply going by the results released on Monday by Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha.

The public primary school in Yatta sub-county had posted an impressive mean performance of 417 marks out of 500, with 94 out of 95 candidates scoring over 400 marks.

But this year, the school’s performance nose-dived after it posted a mean grade of 363 marks. Out of the 142 candidates who wrote the exam, only 14 scored above 400 marks.

Lucas Ndolo, the top candidate in the 2019 class, had 417 marks.

The school’s sharp decline has left many parents and education stakeholders in the county perplexed.

In the public schools category, Machakos Primary, Makutano Primary and Tala Township produced some of the county’s top candidates. Hope Mutanu of Machakos Primary got 420 marks while Violet Njeri of Makutano had 425 marks. In Tala Township, Vincent Murithi got 416 marks.

Private schools, however, produced the bulk of candidates who scored above 400 marks.

Some of these private institutions include Jonazaria Academy in Kathiani, Kyandu Bright Academy in Kangundo, and Machakos Academy and Early Bird Academy in Machakos.

Immaculate Ndumi of Jonazaria Academy had 412 marks while Philip Omondi of Machakos Academy got 416 marks. In Kyandu Bright Academy, Grace Mutanu led with 411 marks.

Immaculate said she hopes to join Mary Hill High School and later study medicine at the University of Nairobi. “I attribute my success to hard work, determination and support by my teachers. I am grateful to God for this performance,” she said.

Elsewhere, a 14-year old boy committed suicide after he allegedly failed to score his desired marks in the KCPE exam.

The boy, who got 170 marks, was a candidate at Kikuyuni Primary School and hailed from Syumbuni village in Matungulu, Machakos County.

Matungulu police boss Kipkemoi Kirui told The Standard that the minor had reportedly threatened to take his own life.

"His parents said he had issued threats that he would take action should he miss the 300-mark target in KCPE. His body was found hanging from a tree in a thicket about one kilometre away from their home,” Mr Kirui said.

The police boss said the body was removed to a morgue in Donyo Sabuk Nursing Home as investigations continue.