Inside Moi High School-Kabarak's academic engine

‎Teachers and students at Moi High School Kabarak in celebration after the school posted an impressive mean grade of 10.6 in the 2025 KCSE examinations. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

While the 10.6 mean score posted by Moi High School-Kabarak might suggest a system of collective excellence, the secret of the school’s triumph also lies in the individual resilience of students.

Like many of her peers, Amanda Chepng’etich spent countless hours balancing class work alongside her own passions for journaling and music. However, her final year brought a challenge that almost dimmed her dream of being among the country’s top achievers.

For Amanda, the path to an A was a battle against both academic pressure and personal health crises. "My health steadily started deteriorating as I suffered from Rhinitis, which was discovered late, leading to a build-up of fluid in my brain," Amanda shared.

“The complication was followed by rheumatoid arthritis, which left my fingers so swollen that the simple act of holding a pen to write or concentrate in class became an exercise in extreme pain.”

But even though no amount of planning could have prevented this, Amanda scored an A plain. Being one of the 406 candidates who were named the ‘Elisha’ cohort, a tradition that the school often do, to strengthen both candidates’ spirituality and encourage them to work hard, her performance is exemplary, like many others.

But the journey, she admits, was far from a stroll to success.

Although she was hospitalised several times during the most crucial stretch of her academic life, the support system offered by the school and colleagues eased the tension.

“Being in a tight-knit circle makes it easier. The school principal hugged me during one of my exams when I felt like giving up, but today we are all celebrating the results of intense emotional support," she said.

But what secret lies within Moi High School-Kabarak’s calculated triumph?

The institution once again secured its position as the top-performing school in the country, posting a historic mean score of 10.6 (A-), a significant leap from the 9.89 (B+) recorded in 2024 and 10.43 (B+) in 2023.

Behind these celebrations lies an academic engine that the school’s leadership credits for this remarkable consistency.

Chief Principal Elisheba Cheruiyot attributes the academic legacy to meticulous planning that begins long before the candidates sit for their first paper. Unlike the traditional approach of teaching right up to the exam window, the school aims to clear its syllabus by May.

“By ensuring the syllabus is cleared by May, we give the candidates over six months of pure revision. This strategic window allows candidates to identify their weak points and work on them as they master the curriculum,” Elisheba said.

The school has also revolutionised the traditional ‘prep’ time by acknowledging the diversity of its candidates. Recognising that some students work better at night while others are ‘early birds’, the administration moved away from a rigid, one-size-fits-all study schedule.

 The school designed special study rooms within the dormitories where candidates can capitalise on their individual peak intellectual hours for maximum productivity.

“This way, each student has their own schedule to achieve their targets during the times they are most comfortable,” Elisheba noted.

To maintain a uniform upward trajectory, the school employs a unique clustering system where students are grouped based on their specific performance in each subject. This allows teachers to provide tailored coaching that meets the student’s needs.

“Our Board of Trustees ensures that whenever a subject requires a field tour or additional resources to boost understanding, they step in,” she added.

School Chaplain Rev Paul Ombati revealed that the success of the candidates was also anchored in a deep spiritual discipline.

"Elisha is a name rooted in biblical miracles that served as a psychological anchor for the students to perform beyond their perceived limits, which they did,” Rev Ombati said.

According to Winny Kertich, a parent at the school, the institution notifies families of any academic or emotional challenges a student faces long before they become crises.

“This collaborative environment ensured that when the 406 candidates entered the exam rooms, they did so as a unified front,” Ms Kertich said.