Jubilation as Matungulu Girls is conferred national status

Celebrations at Matungulu Girls High School after the Ministry of Education conferred Category One (C1) status to the institution. [Erastus Mulwa, Standard]

Matungulu Girls High School has joined the league of national schools after the Ministry of Education conferred Category One (C1) status to the Machakos County-based academic giant.

The news of the school’s elevation was delivered on Wednesday by Governor Wavinya Ndeti, who was the chief guest during a ceremony to mark the school’s 60th anniversary.

“It gives me great joy and pride to officially announce that I successfully lobbied the conferment of Matungulu Girls to National Status,” Wavinya declared, triggering a wild celebration by students, teachers and parents.

The governor attributed the elevation to the Ministry of Education’s recognition of the school’s outstanding and consistent record of academic excellence. “I sincerely convey special thanks to the Ministry of Education for granting this well-deserved title to this impeccable Centre of Excellence,” she said.

She went on, “This elevation is a recognition that you are no longer just a local star; you are a national beacon. With this status comes more responsibilities, more resources, and a higher expectation of excellence. You have earned your seat at the high table of elite Kenyan schools.”

According to the school principal, Juliana Musaba, the school’s mean shot from 7.6 in 2024 to 8.1 in last year’s KCSE, placing it among the top performing institutions in the lower Eastern region.

“Our mean grade rose to 8.14 in 2025 which is an equivalent of a B plain, achieving an 84 percent university transition rate. This performance ranked us at position two among public schools in Machakos County and the best performing girls’ school in our category,” Ms Musaba said.

Excited about the elevation, the school president, Shirleen Akoya pledged the current class of 2026 was focused on attaining a mean of 8.7 in this year’s KCSE.

“We are fully aware that a Mean Score of 8.7 is not a product of wishful thinking but a result of rigorous work. We have made excellence our daily habit. We pledge before this assembly to remain focused, united, and disciplined until that 8.7 target becomes a reality,” Said Shirleen, a form four student.

The school’s chairperson of the Board of Management said, “As a Board, and on behalf of the teaching fraternity and the students, we do not take this National Status lightly. We recognize that we are now playing in the top league. Therefore, we pledge the 8.14 mean we celebrate today is merely a floor, not a ceiling. We will justify the National Status with national-grade performance.”

Matungulu Girls joins top-tier schools in the county, including Machakos School, Kathiani Girls, Tala High and Machakos Girls.