Private academies produce all top 10 candidates in last year’s KCPE

Joy Wambui Ndegwa who garnered a total of 439 marks, topped in Nyeri County and took position 13 nationally is congratulated by her former teachers. [PHOTO: MOSE SAMMY/STANDARD]

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

Private academies edged out public schools to produce all the top 10 candidates in last year’s KCPE national examination results.

Kimutai Brian of Stewards Light School in Nandi County scored 444 marks to emerge the country’s top and maintain the lead of private schools in the KCPE examination.  Otieno Akoth Daphne of Golden Elite Premier School in Kisumu County tied in first position in national examination results that saw private schools scoop all the top 10 best positions.

This score is however, 14 marks more than last year’s top score of 430, even as Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said there was no major improvement in overall performance.

Of the top 10 candidates, there were seven girls against only five boys. Overall, Prof Kaimenyi said the results posted the best gender parity results in years.

A total of 12 candidates scrambled for the top 10 slots with four sets of ties.

Mpekethu Uniter Riziki of Meru County, Boera Felix Robert of Makueni, Koskey Jonathan Kipkurui of Nairobi County and Nambiro Emmanuel Mulayi of Kajiado County all scored 442 marks to post the second best mark.

Omondi Jully Lydia Awuor of Kisumu and Angolio Yujin Mosongo of Kajiado County scored 441 marks to form another tie.

Examination irregularities

Masila Timothy Ian Kindiu and Onyango Elizabeth Atieno, both of Nairobi, Chepkorir Dorcas Cheruiyot of Kericho and Ndete Velma Imali of Kajiado each scored 440 marks to close the best candidates in the top 10. Kajiado County produced three candidates in the top 10 spots.

Last year’s results saw an increase in examination irregularities compared to 2012. Kaimenyi said some 1,576 candidates were involved in cheating, representing 0.19 per cent of the total candidature.

The incidents were reported in 86 of the 23,362 examination centres. In 2012, only 718 candidates were involved in examination malpractices in 41 centres.

This means that an additional 858 candidates were involved in last year’s examination cheating. Kaimenyi attributed this increase to delayed determination of examination irregularity cases by the courts.

KNEC ACT

He also said failure to gazette the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) regulations also slowed down implementation of some of the provisions of the Knec Act 2012.

The cabinet secretary instructed all county directors of education to investigate why cases of examinations irregularities increased.

“I hereby direct all the directors in areas where cheating was reported to investigate and issue a report committing themselves to ensuring the vice is eliminated,” said Kaimenyi.

He said the Ministry of Education would seek audience with Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to ensure examination irregularity cases were expedited.

“I also wish to bring to the attention of all candidates intending to sit KCSE 2014 that involvement in examination regularities will directly translate to being barred from sitting for any Knec examinations for three consecutive years,” he said.

Of the 47 counties, only 19 reported no cases of cheating.

Kaimenyi said only 417,483 candidates scored 251 marks and above in the 2013 results. This compares to 416,900 candidates who scored same marks in 2012.

“The overall performance of candidates in the 2013 KCPE is relatively the same when compared to last year,” he said.

RESULTS SLIP

Kaimenyi announced that candidates would for the first time get their result slips within one week of the release of the results.

He said Form One selections would commence on January 14, noting that this year more than 76.5 per cent of candidates are expected to transition to Form One, which is higher than last year.

Candidates will be admitted to 79 national schools, which include 27 schools recently elevated to this category. In other rankings, public schools produced 18 of the 20 most improved schools. Mabesheni Primary School in Kwale County was listed as the best improved school with a new mean score of 290 up from 180 in 2012.

Dadajabulla Primary School in Wajir County emerged the second most improved school with a mean score of 237 up from 133 in 2012. Alhidaya of Wajir and Hornimo of Garissa were the only academies listed under most improved schools in the top 20 category.

IMPROVED SCHOOLS

Other improved schools were Ngege, Got Nyasumbi and Got Rembo of Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya counties respectively.

On counties’ performance, Kirinyaga emerged top with a mean score of 274, a one-point increase from last year. Elgeyo/Marakwet came second with a mean score of 271 as Makueni and Nandi counties posted a mean score of 267 to emerged third best performers.

Uasin Gishu and Busia capped the top five counties with a mean score of 266. Murang’a was ranked poorest with a mean score of 240 followed by Kisii and Meru counties that posted a score of 242.

Nakuru and Kiambu scored a mean score of 244 to cap the bottom five performers in ranking.

Mumias district in Kakamega County was ranked top in the top 50 districts category, with a mean mark of 297. Athi River and Isinya in Machakos and Kajiado counties came second and third with mean marks of 291 and 290 respectively.

Kirinyaga Central district posted a mean mark of 282 to emerge fourth. Mathira East, Makueni, Westlands, Kisumu municipality and Borabu tied in position five with a mean mark of 280.