Light Academy tops as Coast National Schools bounce back

Teachers and students carry Mohamed Ahmed Al-Maawy of Light Academy in Mombasa after he scored an A in the 2023 KCSE examination on December 8, 2024. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

National schools at the Coast bounced back even as Light Academy, a private school, maintained dominance in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education KCSE exam.

Kwale Boys High, Kenyatta Mwatate, Mama Ngina and Shimo La Tewa that have over the years trailed private schools posted good mean scores.

Results compiled so far showed that Light Academy Mombasa topped Coast region with a mean score of 10.18. The school had 66 candidates, out of which 20 scored A and 20 A-.

A total of 33 candidates at Light Academy posted B+, one had a B, with the last candidate scoring B-, meaning that all the 66 candidates will join university.

The school principal, Mr Yerkin Kalzhanov, attributed the success to teamwork of the students. The school scored A in Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, History and Government.

“We have a system that ensures that our students realise their full potential but couldn’t have done it without the selfless contribution of the teachers and the parents,” said Kalzhanov.

The top male students, Mohamed Ahmed Almaawy and Nuru Abubakar got A. Nuru said she expected high marks because she scored 412 on the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).

“I thank God that even after I was disrupted by an accident. I did well. I want to study in the United Kingdom UK. My dad inspired me. I didn’t just sit and pray, I worked hard,” said Nuru.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan Secondary and Technical School followed hot on Light Academy’s heels with a mean score of 9.42. Sheikh Khalifa had 9 A, 38 A-, 63 B+, 55 B and 37 B-.

A total of 217 candidates sat the 2023 KCSE at Sheikh Khalifa, with the last students scoring C-, according to the School Deputy Principal, Mr Rishad Rajab.

He attributed the performance to the pupils’ hard work and determination to excel. “As a school, we did our best to facilitate them, and they did not disappoint,” he said.

One of the best candidates at Sheikh Khalifa was Lamu Governor Issa Timamy’s son Abdalla Issa Timamy, who scored A. 

Abdalla scored 386 in his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education KCPE in 2019. He said he wished to be a lawyer like his father, who inspired him.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Secondary’s principal, Khamis Mohammed Khamis, said Abdalla wishes to join Strathmore University or the University of Nairobi to pursue law like his father.

“I thank God and my parents and teachers. I didn’t expect the results. I was good at maths and sciences. I will take likely law after my father,” said Abdalla.

At Memom High School in Mombasa, the top candidates were girls Ali Zainab Mohamed, Rumasya Abdalla, and Lulu Rashid, who scored A plain.

Memon Principal Khadija Khalid said the school enrolled 131 students out of which 87 qualified for university after getting C+ and above.

“We have three A, 13 A- and in total 87 out of 131 candidates scored C+ and above,” said Khadija, who attributed the performance to the hard work and cooperation from the parents.

Shimo La Tewa Chief Principal Mathew Mutiso said they have four A- and 25 B+ 93 c+. He said 392 students sat the exams.

“The results are trickling in, and we have 193 out of 392. Last year, we had a mean score of 6.7 mean score. The target mean score is,” said Mutiso.

He said Mathematics, English, Biology, and Arabic chemistry were the best-performing subjects.

At Mama Ngina Girls, Sharon Wanjiku topped with an A plain. Mama Ngina Chief Principal Omar Mwanahamisi said they had 237 candidates, with the first scoring A plain. There were also 11 A minus.

She said last year the school had a mean score of 7.4.

In Kwale, Kwale Boy High School, a national school, also posted a sterling performance, with 343 out of 346 candidates attaining university grades of C plus and above.

The school achieved a mean score of 8.97 up 8.4 points it attained last year.

It had three A, 24 A-, 87 B+, 114 B, 88 B-, 27 C+, and three C.

A jubilant Chief Principal, Michael Mutua, attributed the results to discipline, hard work, and teamwork.

“We are pleased with the results. It is due to discipline and hard work,” said Mr Mutua.

In Taita Taveta, Kenyatta Boys Mwatate bounced back with four A, marking an improvement last year. The school had 257 candidates, and teachers were still compiling by the time of going to press.

“I can authoritatively confirm to you that we have four As in last year’s KCSE results, and we are still compiling them,” said the School Chief Principal, David Macharia.

Kenyatta, one of the two national schools in Taita Taveta, lost its dominance in the national examination in the county in 2022 after it was beaten by its rival Dr Aggrey High School, a county extra school.

Yesterday, Dr Aggrey High School Principal Robert Aran said that the school, which had 267 candidates, had recorded two A-, although they were still compiling the results.

“The system is slow and keeps jamming,” said Mr Aran.

[Renson Mnyamwezi, Patrick Beja, Joackim Bwana, Willis Oketch and Ishaq Jumbe]