Fallen Nairobi School rises from despair and shines again

Nairobi School students Peter Chege Wanjiru (L) and Wycliffe Murira (right) are carried shoulder high after they scored A plain of 82 points and A minus of 76 points respectively. [Boniface Okendo/Standard]

Like a phoenix, Nairobi School has risen from the ashes of despair and is soaring high, again. That is, if the just-released Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results are anything to go by.

Songs and dances rent the air yesterday at the school, which had fallen from its past glory, as students, parents and teachers celebrated the impressive performance.

The school attributed their improvement to hard work, with the teachers saying the institution had proved its critics wrong.

The school recorded an improvement in the number of plain A grades to 23 from last year’s three. It emerged eighth nationally, with a mean average of 9.5 points, joining ranks with top schools of its national status.

School Principal Caspal Maina said last year was an unfortunate time, having recorded low performance that made many critics write off the giant school.

“With last year’s poor performance, we went back to the drawing board. We went to God and sought his intervention. He assured us that this was going to be our year,” said Mr Maina.

He said a series of programmes, including inspiration to candidates and intense revision, coupled with prayers, enabled the school to rise again.

“We also took the candidates to meet with career mentors, who inspired them on what it takes to achieve the best,” said Tabbyrose Wanja, vice chair of parents' association.

Peter Chege Wanjiru, who scored grade A with 82 points, could not hide his Joy, as he was lifted shoulder high upon arrival at the school.

“I expected to pass. I am happy my hard work was rewarded. We worked as a team with help of teachers and parents,” said the shy 18-year-old Wanjiru, who plans to pursue Computer Science at the University of Nairobi.

Wycliffe Morira, who scored A- of 76 points, said he was satisfied with the results, revealing his plans to pursue a course in finance.