Public schools at Coast shine as academies record improvement

Private primary schools at the Coast made the list of top performers even as their public counterparts recorded an improvement in the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education( KCPE) examination results released yesterday.

In Mombasa, Nyali Primary and Light Academy had the highest number of candidates who scored above 400 marks, according to results compiled by The Standard by the time of going to press. Wairi Amani George of Nyali Primary scored 420 marks, making him the top candidate at the Coast. Chigumba Meshack Chidzipha from Ganjoni Primary scored 419 marks, emerging second best.

But the biggest achiever was Philip Karani from Likoni School for the Blind who was position eight nationally in the category of candidates with special needs. He scored 397 marks. "I'm happy and I can only thank my God," said Karani. Top honours in the category went to Bethany Migosi of Thorn Grove Academy who scored 417 marks.

Grace Neema Katana of Havila Academy was ranked second in the special needs category with 407 marks. She hopes to join Kenya High and later become an architect.

Light Academy recorded its best performance in years with a mean score of 382. The school had 380 candidates with seven of them scoring over 400 marks. The last candidate had 323 marks.

The top candidate was Evans Wale (410), followed by Maria Bharmal (409) while Shantelle Amani was third with 407 marks.

School Principal Mehmet Ali Seker attributed the performance to teamwork and good preparation. "It was a tough academic year but the students and teachers were dedicated," he said.

In Kwale, Bethany Christian Academy performed exceptionally well for the second year in a row after its 14 candidates posted a mean grade of 389 marks. The top performers were William Kibet (416), Lorna Mudzihana Lwembe (414), David Denzel Nunez (411) and Rosemary Akhungu Murakami who scored 400 marks.

"It has not been an easy year but the pupils were dedicated. I'm happy with the results," said school director Young Lee. 

There was song and dance at Almona Academy in Malindi, Kilifi County, after two students, Kelly Baraka and Elisha Baya Jefwa, scored 420 and 407 marks, respectively. Both students said they want to be engineers.

“I want to thank my school and teachers for nurturing me. I foresee myself joining Alliance High,” said Baraka, while Elisha said he was eyeing a slot in Mang'u High.

Mrs Elvina Shungu, Baraka’s mother, said she had prayed for her son. “I am happy. I believe he might be the top student in Kilifi County."

Mrs Phillis Jefwa, Elisha’s mother, described him as hardworking and said he had surpassed her expectations.

In Taita Taveta, Faith Mwandawiro from Mlawa Primary who scored 405 marks said she wants to be a medical doctor.

“I was expecting good results because I have been working hard. The results have made me extremely happy and I want to join Alliance Girls, the school of my choice,” said Faith, who's the firstborn in a family of five.

Faith was accompanied by her headteacher, Parmenas Mteti, who broke the good news to her and her father, Mghanga Mwandawiro.

“I thank her efforts which have made the school proud. She has been taking positions 1-2-3 during her end term examinations and we expected her to perform well in her final KCPE,” said Mr Mteti.

Mr Mwandawiro described his daughter as a hard worker, and praised the teachers for their support.