New entrants from Kakamega, mostly private academies, to this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) have outclassed seasoned schools in Lugari and Likuyani Sub Counties in Kakamega County, according to media survey.
Tumaini Academy, which was established by the late Bishop Ben Bahati to cater for academic needs of orphaned and vulnerable children, posted the best mean score in Likuyani Sub County.
According to the academy’s Director, Mr. Dickson Liboi, the school had a mean score of 357.5, with the best two pupils scoring 413 and 409 marks respectively, “only one pupil out 17 candidates scored below 300 marks,” added Liboi.
The director attributed the good results to sound working relationship between teachers and parents and pupils.
“This was our first attempt at the national exam. I, however, want to recognize the close cooperation between my staff and parents and pupils for this great achievement,” said Liboi.
And at the neighboring Soy Precious Academy, parents, teachers, pupils and community had all reasons to smile and boast after the school produced the best pupil in the Sub County with 423 marks.
A similar script was observed in the neighboring Lugari Sub County, where another first timer, Green Embers Academy, where the top pupil managed 402 marks with the school postinn a mean score of 341.4, which was the best in the Sub County.
According to the teacher in charge of examinations at the academy, Mr. Gilbert Chanzu, only one pupil scored less than 300 marks in the national exam which was officially released on Wednesday by Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i.
However, the story was different at Manyonyi primary in Lugari Sub County, where parents and the community have threatened to demonstrate on Monday next week in protest against what they have termed as the worst results to be posted by the institution since its inception.
The leading pupil at the institution managed to garner a paltry 286 marks out of the possible 500.
Generally, pupils from private schools performed well compared to their counterparts in public schools, with majority of parents who spoke to the press attributing the dismal performance by public schools to the one and half month long teachers strike.
Despite recording highest number of irregularities in the 2015 KCPE examinations no single case was reported in Matete, Lugari and Likuyani Sub Counties as all the candidates who sat their examinations got their results.