The effects of Covid-19 have been immense and the education sector has not been spared.
However, candidates of the recently released Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) posted good results.
Ululations rented the air as celebrations got on top gear.
Mercy Jerono topped in Hill School Primary school with 423 marks.
She is thankful that she finally made it.
“I’m forever grateful for the support I was accorded by my fellow classmates, teachers, parents and most importantly God because it would have been unfruitful without them,” said Jerono.
She says even though they had been learning under Covid-19 restrictions, the Board of Management made sure everything was streamlined for effective learning.
According to Jerono, teachers made a sacrifice for their success.
“The teachers played a very integral and pivotal role for our triumph in exams because they could wake up early so that they could teach us,” added Jerono.
Jerono could not hide her joy and thanked the headteacher Mr Hesbon Ngaira for the role he played that saw them post impressive results.
“I am very much happy; the school head teacher Mr. Ngaira has been very supportive. I have nothing to say other than express my gratitude,” reiterated Jerono.
“I’m very happy for scoring 423 marks; it was not a shock to me because I had worked for it with a lot of sacrifices,” added Jerono.
Jerono however said there was mixed emotions; they were all anxious and worried after learning was disrupted by Covid-19 March last year.
Now, they are thankful that they pulled it through.
Their learning was marred with confusion as it was an extraordinary situation. They had never experienced the same during their time of learning.
She narrates that they never lowered their expectations and agitation to push for stellar results although Covid-19 disrupted the learning calendar.
Jerono’s dream school is Moi Girl’s Eldoret.
Asked of her dream career, she answered without a blink; she wants to join medicine world career.
Particularly, she wants to become a neurosurgeon.
Biwot Becky, too was a candidate at Hill School and she scored 418 marks.
She attributes the collective responsibility among stakeholders for the results posted by the school.
The school had over 20 pupils who scored 400 marks and above.
Hesbon Ngaira is the headteacher, Hill School and he too could not hide his joy for the results.
“I want to thank God for the good results; we are happy for it,” said Ngaira.
Mr. Ngaira notes that learning and examinations were administered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We had very strong unity in our school and that is why we got good results,” said Ngaira.
He says his members of staff were dedicated in their work, thus the good results.
According to Ngaira, the Board of Management worked smart to ensure a good working and learning environment.
They ensured Covid-19 protocols were adhered to.
Ngaira added that after the closure of the schools due to Covid-19 outbreak March last year, they had to go an extra mile to prepare the candidates while at their homes by sending them questions to asses them.
Parents also played their role well by being close to their children.
“This year, our mean score improved from 347 to 351 which is a significant improvement,” added Ngaira.
Sammy Bor, the chairperson of the school’s Board of Management registered his appreciation to stakeholders for the stellar performance.
He says they have been aiming at the mark for many years.
“We have have been aiming at the 360 marks and we are greatful that we have made a very great progress and positive deviation in this year’s results even though we were disturbed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Bor.
He termed the teachers as self driven with a lot of sacrifice.
Bor commended the Ministry of Education for the stringent measures it put in place to fight examinations irregularities.
“Honestly speaking the management of the examinations by the ministry is good because this will ensure there is quality and credibility,” added Bor.
“Credibility of exams is crucial for the nation.”
The top boy, Kemboi Benson Kibet says he did not expect the results to be that good.
He attributes the results to the management of the school and the parents for their supportive nature.
Parents commended teachers for delivering impressive results.
Led by Sammy Cheruiyot, they said most of the parents were very hesitant to allow the learners to be in schools.
Cheruiyot argues that the boychild needs have been seemingly left aside.
“It is now high time that the boychild gets attention. Even during the holiday, the boychild is left for himself whereas the girl child is being given a lot of attention,” said Cheruiyot.
Education Director for Turbo Sub county Dr. Kuyo Ole Saoinah was impressed with the results, citing Kaptendon, Kosachei Adventist, Murgur Hill among the primary schools which despite being in rural areas performed well in the sub county.
“The learners and the teachers worked well despite all the challenges among them few teaching staff and the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Ole Saoinah.
On girls performing better than boys, Christopher Kiplagat who is the director Greenlight Academy said: “most mothers are closer to their children as compared to fathers”.
The boys and girls performance nationally in a report delivered by the Education CS Prof. George Magoha indicates that girls performed better than their male counterparts in several subjects.
1,179,192 candidates sat for the 2020 KCPE exam in 28,460 exam centres all over the country.
However, Prof. Magoha said that there shall be a 100 percent transition where all those who did the exam will join secondary schools.
