ranking of schools in 2016 kcse ...educationnews.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/education...top...

STORY PAGE 4

Focus on 2014 top KCPE Schools- Pages Education

NewsThe Bestselling Newspaper on EducationVoL 183 Ksh 70

www.educationnews.co.kejanuary 27 - fEbruary 10, 2017

Ranking of schools in 2016 KCSE - Page 27

New rules for teacher promotions By John Machio

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has confirmed it would

clear salary arrears of 1,125 ‘Relief Teachers’ by end of January, Education News can authoritatively report.

The Commission according to documents in our possession would spend Sh53.5 million in basic salaries and arrears on ‘Relief Teachers’.

Acting Deputy Director – Field Services, Pamela Ochieng while making the confirmation that the Commission is now ready to clear the outstanding salary arrears of the ‘Relief Teachers’, ordered Digit Heads to recall the files of the affected tutors and ensure they are fully paid their dues.

Turn to page 9

1,125 Relief Teachers get salary arrears

Why varsity staff are living in povertyBy John Machio

Academic staff at all the Public Universities are wallowing in poverty

because of poorly crafted Collective Bargain Agreements (CBAs) and unwillingness by the National Government to engage

the Unions in discussing their welfare, Education News can exclusively report.

It is also emerging that the Sh7.8 billion allocated by the National Treasury for paying salaries for academic staff at all Public Universities and Constituent Colleges as stated in

the 2010/2013 CBA was diverted to undisclosed projects or programmes and not to University Academic staff.

According to the 2010/2013 CBA seen by Education News, these funds were to be paid out to the staff in two phases. But this did not happen as University

Councils resorted to addressing components in the CBA in piecemeal. The pay deal was to be implemented in two tranches with the first payment of Sh 3.9 billion to be paid with effect from July, 1st, 2012.

Turn to page 13 Prof Muga K’Olale, Uasu chairman

Proposed structured salaries for varsity lecturers 2013 -2017

Josephine Maundu, Head of TSC Human

Resource Management and Development.

List pages 8-9

Proposed Structured salaries for UASU 2013 - 2017

Academic Rank Title Minimum Basic Salary (Kshs./Month)

Avera Average Basic Salary (Kshs./Month)

Maximum Basic Salary (Kshs/Month)

House Allowance (Kshs)

Professor 999,030 1,280,804 1,562,625 250,000

Associate Professor 740,020 948,743 1,157,466 190,000

Senior Lecturer 548,163 702,774 857,384 160,000

Lecturer 406,050 520,572 635,097 145,000 Assistant Lecturer /

Tutorial Fellow 300,775 385,610 470,444 135,000

Graduate Teaching Assistant* 195,057 248,430 331,525 195,657 130,000

Ministryreleases new setbooks for

schools-Page 2

Education nEws2

By Staff Reporter

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has rolled out the process of hiring over 16,000 teachers to replenish the

depleted Teaching Service whose shortfall now stands at above 85,000.

The Commission is to hire 7,000 fresh teachers of various grades to serve in both Primary and Post-primary institutions starting February.

Successful candidates will be deployed to serve in stations in any part of the country, and not necessarily in the County where they were recruited.

The recruitment exercise of 4,523 teachers to replace those who exited the service between July and September, 2016 was completed on December 30, 2016, and the Commission is in the process of releasing appointment letters to successful candidates.

Going by a circular dated December 14, 2016 signed by the Commission Secretary/Chief Executive, Nancy Macharia the replacement exercise was conducted within the set regulations, and in adherence to the outlined terms and conditions of hiring teachers.

“TSC advertised 4,523 posts to replace teachers who have exited service through natural attrition – 3,922 posts for Primary school teachers, and 601 for Post-primary school/institution tutors,” said Macharia.

It is also anticipated that about the same

number (4,523) of teachers who exited the teaching service between October 2016 and December 2017 will be recruited (replacement) to bring the total to over 16,000 teachers at the end of the exercise.

The circular seen by Education News, however states that to land on the TSC payroll, you must be a Kenyan citizen, must be 45 years of age and bellow, must have original professional and academic papers, and more importantly, must be registered as a teacher as per Section 23 of the TSC Act (2012).

Hinting that tutors who served as ‘Relief Teachers’ would be given preference, Macharia stated: “Applicants who were engaged on contract as ‘Relief Teachers’ were expected to attach a copy of the contract letter and casualty return report.”

“Applicants for posts in Primary schools were expected to be holders of P1 Certificate and were to be selected from the County merit lists compiled during the August 2016 recruitment exercise. Successful candidates would be deployed to serve in stations in any part of the country and not necessarily in the County where they will be recruited.

“Applicants for vacancies in Post-primary institutions were expected to be holders of a minimum of Diploma in Education. Candidates applied to the Secretary – Board of Management of the school/institution where the vacancy had been advertised and submitted a copy to the TSC County Director,” stated Macharia.

All interested candidates were to submit their applications to the respective County Directors and the Boards of Management not later than December 30, 2016.

Continues TSC boss: “The Commission is an equal opportunity employer, and people with disability were encouraged to apply, more so, the Commission will deal with TSC County Selection Panels and Boards of Management in this exercise. Individual application to the Commission will not be considered. Successful applicants must not fill employment forms in more than one station as this will lead to disqualification.”

The top Commission official said in the circular that preference would be given to applicants who have not previously been employed by TSC.

In a related development, the Commission has transmitted particulars of teachers who retired between January and October, 2016 to the Pension Office for the processing of their retirement benefits.

We’ve also learnt that the Commission is

in the process of dispatching the particulars of teachers who exited the service between November 2016 and January 2017 upon hitting the retirement age of 60 years.

Particulars of 315 teachers were transmitted to the Pension Office in January, 2016 while in February 270 teachers’ records were forwarded to the office, March (438), April (543), May (745), June (594), July (263), August (427), September (365) and October 385 teachers.

Though some teachers have exited TSC payroll, their particulars have not been forwarded to the Pension Office since their (records) are not in order as required by the law, hence this lot will miss out on the benefits.

The number of teachers to be recruited, excludes the more than 10,000 Principals, Head teachers and deputies in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary institutions that Macharia announced in September that they would be hired and promoted to Job Groups ‘K’, ‘M’ and ‘N’.

TSC to hire over 16,000 teachers

Ministry of Education i n

collaboration with Kenya Institute of Curriculum D e v e l o p m e n t (KICD) have approved literature set books to replace the ones phased out at the end of last year, Education News has established.

In the same breath, the ministry has also released the full list of compulsory Swahili set books to be used this year.

The Director for Quality Assurance and Standards in the ministry, Pius Mtutisya made the revelations in a circular to all Secondary school

principals, and requested County Directors of Education to ensure the availability of the said books.

“This is to inform you about the literacy titles , the set books for Literature in English and Fasihi ya Kiswahili that will be studied by students in Form Three,” the director states in the circular.

In the case of English L i t e r a t u r e , two optional titles have been replaced and three

compulsory Kiswahili titles also phased out.

The full list of new set book titles and their duration are as follows:

COMPULSORY ENGLISH SET TEXTSNo. Title Publisher Duration Status1. The River and the Source (1994 Edition) by Margaret Ogola Focus Publishers 2013-2017 Current novel2. The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2007 Edition) by Bertolt Brecht Penguin (Spotlight Publishers (E.A) Limited.) 2013-2017 Current novel

OPTIONAL ENGLISH SET TEXTSNo. Title Publisher Duration Status1. Betrayal in the City (2010 Edition) by Francis Imbuga East African Educational Publishers 2013-2017 Current optional play2. Memories We Lost and Other Stories (Approved by KICD 2016 Edition) Moran E.A. Publishers 2017-2021 New anthology of short stories

3. The Pearl (Approved by KICD 2016 Edition) by John Steinbeck Bookmark Africa 2017-2021 New optional novel

COMPULSORY SWAHILI SET TEXTS No. Title Publisher Duration Status 1. Kidagaa Kimemwozea (2012 Edition) by Ken Walibora Spotlight Publishers (E.A) Limited. 2013-2017 Current novel (Riwaya) 2. Kigogo by Pauline Kyovi (Kimeidhinishwana KICD Toleo la 2016) Storymoja Publishers 2017-2021 New play (Tamthilia) 3. Tumbo LisiloshibanaHadithiNyingine by Ken Walibora and Said A. Mohamed

(Kimeidhinishwana KICD Toleo la 2016) Longhorn Publishers 2017-2021 New anthology of short stories (HadithiFupi)

Ministry finally releases new list of set books

The full list of new set book titles and their duration

Dr Julius Ouma Jwan, Director, Kenya Institute of Curricullum Development.

KNUT delegates following proceedings during the union's 59th Annual Delegates Conference at Kasarani Sports Centre, Nairobi recently. TSC plans to hire 7,000 fresh teachers of various grades to serve in both Primary and Post-primary institutions starting February.

january 27 - fEbruary 10, 2017

3

By Dennis Bett

Samro School management has an-nounced plans to sell or lease the in-stitution to successful bidders after

decades of existence decorated with impres-sive KCPE exam results ever since it started offering the exams in 2009.

The Uasin Gishu County-based school was established in 1998 as a pre-school and in 2001, it started a primary section. The school is registered by Ministry of Educa-tion to hold 395 pupils.

The school sitting on a 4-acre land is sit-uated in Ilula village, Kapsoya Location in Eldoret East is located 2.5 kilometers from Marura Centre Car Wash and 2.5 kilometers to Eldoret KCC area.

The Manager and Proprietor, Mr Samuel Teimuge said the decision to sell the school came as a result of their advancing age with his Director Mrs. Rhoda Teimuge and the option is to concentrate on managing their health with reduced amount of work.

He said that since doing its first KCPE

Top performing Samro School put up for sale

Samro School Manager, Mr Samuel Teimuge together with the Director,

Mrs. Rhoda Teimuge Students boarding school bus.

examinations, the school posted a mean of 308 in the frst year, that is, 2009, 296 in 2010, 314 in 2011, 309 in 2012, 293 in 2013, 286 in 2014, 332 in 2015 and 304 in 2016.

Teimuge who spoke to Education News at the school recently said the school has had a history of successful KCPE results attained through hard work and co-operation between teachers, parents and students.

He added that the school has been teach-ing children through natural ways to grasp the

CONTACTS: Tel: 0722 636 307 / 0720 931 340E-mail:[email protected] P.O BOX 1968-30100Eldoret.

Mr Samuel Teimuge pointing at the school tuition block.

content as opposed to drill-ing.

He said they have taught in line with its core values of integrity, honesty and Chris-tian oriented paths.

“We are now inviting willing buyers to acquire and nurture the school. Teach-ers in this school have been steady and most of them have taught for more than 5 years while we have subordinate staffs who have worked for 18 years.

We are proud that the school has produced students who have excelled in secondary schools and joined direct entry to university and college,” he added.

On the other hand, the school Director. Mrs Rhoda Teimuge said the school is well equipped with modern facilities and well de-veloped infrastructure to ease learning.

“We have seven permanent standard class-rooms which can accommodate 40 pupils and two semi-permanent pre-school classes. The school has a modern computer lab with more than 15 computers which allows us to move

well with current technology,” she said.“We also have an administration block

with three offices and a reception,” Mrs Teimuge stated, adding that the school also has a bus, two permanent dormitories as well as dining hall which can accommodate 150 pupils.

The school, she explained, has also been doing well in co-curricular activities and has performed up to the regional levels in drama festivals and has partnered with

Africa Sport Talent Empowerment.Studies in the school are currently in

progress.

1. FIRST FIVE ADMISSIONS WITH 380 MARKS IN EACH CLASS WILL GET FULL TUITION FEE CONCESSION2. FIRST FIVE (5) ORPHANS WITH 350 MARKS IN KCPE AND ABOVE WILL BE GIVEN FULL TUITION FEE CONCESSION3. TOP 3 POSITIONS IN CLASS & REAL BROTHERS /SISTER SHALL BE GIVEN EXTRA INCENTIVES4. DAY SCHOLARS SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE LUNCH5. COMPUTER STUDIES WILL BE KNEC EXAMINABLE SUBJECT6. THE SCHOOL HAS WELL EQUIPPED LABORATORIES & LIBRARY

ELBURGON BAPTIST SEC. SCHOOLMIXED DAY & BOARDING

Situated Along Njoro - Elburgon Road at Arimi Farm

P.O. BOX 1048 - 20100 NAKURUTEL: 020 2316723 / 0771158738 / 0725 803133 / 0726 768270 E-mail: [email protected]

2017 INTAKE IN PROGRESS

FROM FORM 1-4, 2016

ADMINISTRATION BLOCK

Dayscholars Kshs Boarder Kshs

Term 3Term 2Term 1

7,000 6,000 4,100

17,000 16,000 13,200

1. FIRST FIVE ADMISSIONS WITH 380 MARKS IN EACH CLASS WILL GET FULL TUITION FEE CONCESSION2. FIRST FIVE (5) ORPHANS WITH 350 MARKS IN KCPE AND ABOVE WILL BE GIVEN FULL TUITION FEE CONCESSION3. TOP 3 POSITIONS IN CLASS & REAL BROTHER /SISTER SHALL BE GIVEN EXTRA INCENTIVES4. DAY SCHOLARS SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE LUNCH5. COMPUTER STUDIES WILL BE KNEC EXAMINABLE SUBJECT6. THE SCHOOL HAS WELL EQUIPPED LABORATORIES & LIBRARY

NEW ELIMU HIGH SCHOOLMIXED DAY & GIRLS BOARDING

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT 0721531452, 0780760999, 0775 366 414, 0202439948 Email: [email protected]

Situated Along Nakuru - Solai Road Near KITI

2017 INTAKE IN PROGRESS FROM

FORM 1-4,ADMINISTRATION BLOCK

Dayscholars Kshs Boarder Kshs

Term 3Term 2Term 1

7,200 6,200 4,30017,200 16,200 14,200

P.o Box.1637, Pandit Nehru Road, Baringo House, opposite Switzer Pharmacy Nakuru - Kenya

Tel. 0721607002 / 0731965242E-mail: [email protected]

Manufacturers of: ►High quality staff uniforms►School uniforms►Uniform materials►Tailoring accessories►Lab coats►Aprons ►Both retail and whole sale prices are available ►Uniforms contractors►School badges►School logo►Westcom uniform►Custom badges

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYTHOSE INTERESTED IN SELLING UNIFORMS LIKE SCHOOL, SHOPS, HAWKERS, SHOULD CONTACT

Back to school offer available.Shopkeeper’s prices availableVisit us now for plenty of uniforms

WEST COMMERCIAL STORES-NAKURU

By Wasike Elvis

The Japanese Government has pledged to donate laboratory equipment worth Sh31 million to

Moi University School of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Toyota Tsusho CEO, Wada Akira said the donation will help boost research and teaching in the school.

"The equipment will be delivered this February," Akira disclosed recently after awarding students who did their intern-ship at the company.

He said Toyota Tsusho and Moi University signed a Memorandum of Under-standing (MOU) in January last year

to conduct research on soil to establish the suit-ability of different types of fertilizer for given locations.

"The research on soil helps our company to produce fertilizer types that match soil defi-ciencies," noted Akira.

The school Dean, Prof Timothy Sulo who represented Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Research and Exten-sion, Prof. Isaac Kimengi hailed the MoU, noting that the University stands to benefit

more.The students who were awarded includ-

ed Amon Kemboi, Lilian Siele, Florence Chebet, Antony Oketch and Diana Kenana. Oketch and Siele have been absorbed into Toyota Tsusho on a permanent basis.

Prof Sulo added that the school has been carrying out research protocols on maize and wheat in North Rift for the past one year, saying that this is to continue for more than five years.

Moi varsity to receive Sh31m laboratory equipment from Japan

Toyota Tsusho CEO, Wada Akira with Moi University students who benefited from the internship programme. Photo/Wasike Elvis

jANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Education nEws4

By John Machio

Performance data that will guide Teach-ers Service Commission (TSC) when deciding on a teacher that should earn a

promotion this year is ready, Education News has learnt.

The confidential data will be used to pro-mote teachers who have excelled, identify non–performers and those who should be de-moted, interdicted or dismissed all together from the service.

The Commission has been assessing Per-formance Contracts for Heads of institution as well as Performance Appraisal forms for Teachers before compiling this guide.

In a circular dated September 7, 2016 addressed to County Directors, the Commis-sion conducted a Monitoring Exercise on the implementation of Performance Contracting and Teacher Performance Appraisal and De-velopment which covered all counties from September 12 to 23, 2016.

.Signed by a Mr Gabriel Mathenge on behalf of TSC Secretary/Chief Executive, Nancy Macharia, the County Directors were advised to ensure that all Heads of institu-tion have filed a copy of signed Performance Contracting document; ensure that monthly and termly Monitoring Exercise reports on Performance Contracting are maintained and updated as per the guidelines.

The directors were also to ensure that Heads of school make available an institution-al analysis of Teachers Performance Appraisal and Development (TPAD) rating as per each of the performance standards; weekly sum-mary of teacher presence or absenteeism and lesson attendance as per TSC Teacher Lesson Attendance Register and evidence of teachers having undertaken lesson observation at least once a term.

The Monitoring Exercise and the data collection which ended with TSC Open Day held at all Regional offices was a success for the Commission as it fully enbraced Result Based Performance Management Approach

(RBPMA) system. This entails Performance Contracting for Heads of primary and post-primary institutions as well as a Performance Appraisal system for teachers.

The Performance Contracting and Teach-er Performance Appraisal and Development system was rolled out in Public schools to enhance performance, determine promotion and guide the Commission on what measures should be taken against non-performers.

RBPMA will also guide the Commis-sion in establishing staffing norms to ensure teachers are well and evenly distributed in schools or colleges without any favour or discrimination.

It is also a long term plan by the Gov-ernment to start paying teachers’ salaries based on their performance contracts and not by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) mediated by trade unions.This ob-jective is to be achieved through successful implementation of RBPMA.

Once the system is workable and ef-ficient, it will change how teachers are awarded salary increases and benefits and

how tutors and Heads of institution will be upgraded from one scale to the other.

Salaries/allowances for teachers have for a long time been determined by nego-tiations with their unions with no particular indicators or measures put in place to en-sure that teachers are paid for work done.

The new system will provide specific yardsticks which each teacher will be mea-sured with.

A trial was undertaken involving 5,000 teachers in six selected counties before the system was rolled out to all the 47 Coun-ties.

According to Mathenge, the Monitor-ing Exercise was used to identifyheads of institution who had not filed copies of signed Performance Contract documents.

The exercise provided the Commission with an opportunity to screen monthly and termly reports on Performance Contracting to determine whether they were properly maintained and updated as per the guide-lines.

The exercise was also used to establish

whether all teachers had their TPAD tools duly filled and teachers’ appraisal records for Second term updated and filed for ease of retrieval.

Head of schools provided an institu-tional analysis of teachers’ TPAD rating per each of the performance standards. Weekly summary of teacher presence or absenteeism and lesson attendance as per TSC Teacher Lesson Attendance was also examined.

County Directors were also ordered to send in a list of schools with the following characteristics: At Primary level – Catego-ry One: Five schools whose 2015 KCPE mean score was 240 and below with at least seven teachers; Category Two: Five schools whose 2015 KCPE mean score was 260 and above with at least two streams.

At Secondary level – Category One: Five schools whose 2015 KCSE mean score was four points and below with at least seven teachers; Category Two: Five schools with at least two streams.

“To ensure that the Commission is able to sample schools of different categories urgently, send a list of schools with the above characteristics,” states the Internal Memo.

All these data will be transmitted to TSC County Directors just before the com-mencement of the 2017 promotion exercise (interviews) and the Teacher Proficiency Course (TPC) scheduled for March or April, this year.

It is worth noting that teachers were evaluated on their performance against agreed standards, strengths and where they need support for development.

According to TSC Hand Book on De-centralized Teacher Management Func-tions (2015), the purpose of RBPMA in the teaching service is to improve per-formance standards and professionalism with a view to enhancing the image of the teaching profession and improve learning outcomes.

New rules for teacher promotions out

By Titus Murithi

More than 80 per cent of local primary and sec-ondary schools have no

title deeds for the pieces of land they occupy, making them vulner-able to land grabbers, Lands Cabi-net Secretary, Jacob Kaimenyi has said.

He said 83 per cent of Kenyan schools, both primary and second-ary, have no title deeds as heads of those institutions have been claiming the fee to process them is high.

The CS, however, said the government has now waived for them that money and there is no reason as to why any Kenyan school should remain without a title deed.

Prof Kaimenyi who addressed a Press in Meru town recently dis-closed that over 2.5 million pro-

cessed title deeds are ready for collection.

“In some areas they are being collected slowly while in other ar-eas they are being collected quick-ly,” he said.

The CS spoke on the impor-tance of educating Kenyans on registering as voters so that they could participate in the coming general elections in August.

Kaimenyi also said 55 per cent of schools are not fenced which exposes them to intruders who could be drug peddlers, terrorists and land grabbers among other un-desirable characters in the society.

He said even in Nairobi, several schools are not fenced, which is a problem that cuts across the board not only in the city but across the country. He cited the case of Ga-rissa University where terrorists gained entry into the campus eas-ily and caused mayhem including

loss of innocent lives.“Schools need to be fenced for

heightened security of the learners in those institutions. Drug ped-dlers and land grabbers can gain access to unfenced schools easily and to avoid this kind of a situa-tion schools need to be fenced,” said the CS.

Prof Kaimenyi also lauded the government for improved and transformative services in Edu-cation sector which have made it possible for children from poor backgrounds access education eas-ily.

The CS cited as a clear exam-ple the paying of final examination fee for all Standard Eight pupils and Form Four students as a great stride by the government to make education affordable for all Ke-nyan children, adding that the gov-ernment spends over Sh3.5 billion to pay for the national exams.

83% of schools have no title deeds, Land CS says

Former Education CS, Prof Jacob Kaimenyi who is now Lands CS shares a word with Nathan Barasa Chairman of Kenya National Parents Teachers Association and Education PS Belio Kipsang.

TSC Director Nancy Macharia during the launch of digital learning program at St Kizito Primary school, Mbeere North Sub County today. She was with ICT Authority Director of Programs and Standards Paul Rono. File Photo


Education nEws 5

By Elijah Nyaanga

Nyambaria Boys High School proved its academic prowess yet again in 2016 Kenya Certificate

of Secondary Education (KCSE) exami-nations, emerging top in Gusii region (Kisii and Nyamira Counties).

The national school, located in a se-rene environment off Kisii-Nyamira road about ten kilometers from Kemera mar-ket, took position three in Nyanza region with a mean score of 8.89.

Out of 293 students who sat for ex-ams, only 19 scored below C plus, mean-ing, 274 students qualified to university,

Nyambaria Boys shines in 2016 KCSE exams

Nyambaria Boys Principal, Gerald Orina Nyangwara, in his office. He is an old boy of the school.

Students studying in the library.

A staff attending to a parent dur-ing reporting of 2017 Form one stu-dents. The school was allocated 360 slots in Form one selection.

Dormitory under construction. On completion, it will accommodate 300 students.

Administration block.

School gate

A dormitory named after President Uhuru Kenyatta.

A section of 2017 candidates in class.

School bus.

translating to 93.52 per cent pass. How-ever, the 19 students are eligible to join middle level colleges. The school was one of the highest with candidature enrol-ment in the country.

Though the school dropped by 0.9 from 2015 KCSE exam results, it has maintained an upward performance and is now targeting a mean score of 10.4 in the 2017 KCSE examinations.

KCSE examination results breakdown for 2016: A (1), A- (54), B+ (58), B (64), C+ (41), C (14), C- (4) and the last per-

former scored D+. In an exclusive interview with Educa-

tion News in his office, the school’s Prin-cipal Gerald Orina Nyangwara attributed the sterling performance to the support from stakeholders.

He singled out strong chaplaincy as the main factor that has seen the school not only achieve academic preeminence, but inculcate positive morals and skills in students to make them responsible mem-bers of the community. Nyambaria Boys is sponsored by Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church.

“First, I thank God for enabling us to post this performance. I congratulate

candidates for having worked hard and embracing discipline. You have made us proud and walk tall. To the staff, thanks for your concerted efforts and working self-lessly to ensure we are moving to greater heights academically,” said Orina.

“Parents, you were so supportive whenever we needed your help, I also ap-plaud you. The sponsor has always stood with us to attend to students’ spiritual needs and mold their morals. Political goodwill has also had a positive impact in our school,” he added.

Prior to succeeding his predecessor

Robinson Otwori who retired last year, Mr Orina was Principal of Nyamira Boys that also rubs shoulders with best per-forming schools in the region.

Responding to the question concern-ing the reforms in the education sector and its impact on the outcome of 2016 KCSE examinations, Orina hailed Educa-tion Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i for spearheading the reforms that he not-ed had brought sanity in Education sector and restored credibility in examinations.

“The reforms have provided a fair playground to all schools in Kenya and students scored their honest grade. It was a true reflection of our students. The question should be why the dismal per-

formance,” he said. The Principal noted that exam anoma-

lies had been abetted for long time, point-ing out that most schools in the past were denied their genuine results for well known reasons.

“The cartels that used to extort from schools in the process of moderation and standardization of national exams after marking did not succeed this time round. The reforms came at the right time. Let us embrace them because they are meant to improve standards of educa-tion in our country. To manage transition it requires people with high skills like Dr. Matiang’i,” stated Orina.

BackgroundThe school was founded in 1966 by

the SDA Church and has made enviable improvement since then in terms of per-formance and infrastructure. The school is situated in a rural set up of Manga Sub-County, Nyamira County.

It has grown from a humble back-ground to the current giant status due to hardworking teachers, good manage-ment, supporting parents and other stake-holders.

Mr Orina said the institution com-bines academic and co-curricular activi-

pacity storey building that we intend to use as dormitory but we are lacking other essential infrastructural facilities like a multi-purpose hall and laboratories. We are also hit by water shortage. Nyamira County government promised to construct

Aerial view of the school;Dormitory (left), tuition blocks (center), tank and a play ground under construc-tion (far right)

a water treatment plant; we are yearning for its implementation,” he said.

“We currently have 50 Teachers Ser-vice Commission (TSC) employed teach-ers, 30 others employed by BOM against a student population of 1700 students. We have a deficit of 30 teachers,” the Princi-pal added.

Orina appealed to the government through Ministry of Education to consider allocation of more infrastructural funds to improve and build more facilities that he noted will improve education standards of the school.

ties to enable pupils realize and capitalize in their talents.

The school has an active record in extra-curricular activities having reached the national level in drama, rugby, music, science congress and indoor games.

The students are also involved in ball games, athletics, contests, symposia, discussions and excursions which have contributed to positive representation in extra-curricular activities.

Challenges bedeviling the schoolThe principal hailed the government

for supporting the school in improving its infrastructural facilities but noted they are still faced with myriad challenges among them; inadequate teaching force and wa-ter shortage.

“We are building a 300 hundred ca-

A Form 2 student washing hands. The school observes and gives hygiene weight as far as health is concerned despite being hit by water shortage.


Education nEws6 january 27 - fEbruary 10, 2017

BUSIA COUNTY1: Kolanya Girls- 6.0072: St. Cecilia Nangina Girls- 5.9963: Sigalame Boys- 5.8804: Butula Boys High- 5. 675: Lwanya Girls- 5.40466: St. Monica Chakol- 5.167: OLM- 5.10768: Bumala AC- 5.089: Buriya Mixed- 4.8810: Kolanya Boys- 4.80411: Oblong Sec School- 4.712: Lugulu AC- 4.6613: Moding Sec School- 4.6414: St. Mathias- 4.6315: Budokomi- 4.61416: Busiada Girls- 4.4217: Bumala 'B'- 4.4118: Buhui Sec School- 4.3219: St. Paul's Amukura- 4.2720: St. Joseph's Chakol- 4.22Compiled by Okoth Peter Obaro

1. Singore Girls High2. Metkei Girls High3. Saint Patricks High Iten4. Maria Soti High5. Aic Girls Kessup High6. Moi Girls Kapwowar7. Kapkenda Girls High8. Sambirir Girls8. Kapkitony Girls10. Our Lady of Glory Kaptagat10. Chebara High School10. Kabulwo High13. Lelboinet High14. Kipsoen Boys15. Simotwo High 16. St. Teresa Koibarak17. St. Peters Marakwet Boys18. Kimuron High School19. Kaptabuk Secondary School20. St. Alphonze Secondary School21. Emsea Secondary School

8.98.88.38.17.16.76.66.26.26.06.06.05.85.75.65.35.25.04.94.94.6

1. Matuga Girls 6.308 2. Kwale Boys 6.292 3. Kinango High 4.836 4. Waa Boys 4.813 5. Kwale Girls 4.511

ELGEYO MARAKWET COUNTY

KWALE COUNTY

1. Lamu Girls Secondary School 5.372. Sacred Heart Girls Secondary 5.053. Mpeketoni Secondary School 4.774. Kibao Royal Secondary School 3.875. Kongwe Secondary School 3.396. Bright Shella Secondary School 3.067. Witu Secondary School 2.558. Pakaga High School 2.279. Lamu Boys Secondary School 2.2110. Uziwa Secondary School 2.06

LAMU COUNTY

MURANG’A COUNTY1. Muranga High School 9.2342. Pioneer Boy’s 9.047 3. Njiiri school 8.9484. Mugoiri girls 8.4735. Njumbi boys 7.6486. Kahuhia girls 7.631 7. Kiria-ini girls 6.8578. Weithaga Boys 6.8489. Kangema Boys 6.82110. Nyagatugu Boys 6.77811.Kiaguthu boys 6.589 12. Kamahuha Girls 6.375 13. Gaichanjiru Boys 6.360 14. Mumbi Girls 6.335 15. Ruchu girls 6.263 16. Githunguri girls 6.156 17. Gatanga Girls 5.883 18. Ng’araria Girls 5.746 19. Karega Day school 5.710 20. St Charles Lwanga 5.674

1. Ngandu Girls 9.022. Kanjuri Boys 8.803. Mahiga Girls 8.754. Kagumo High 8.705. Nyeri High 8.406. St. Marys High 8.107. Chinga Boys 7.968. Tumutumu Girls 7.549. Othaya Girls 7.5210. Othaya Boys 7.3311. Karima Boys 7.2712. Narumoru Girls 7.2013. South Tetu Sec 7.2014. Chinga Girls 6.7215. Giakanja Boys 6.4016. Kirimara Boys 6.3017. Kangubiri Girls 6.1018. Muruguru Sec 6.1019. Kenyatta Mahiga Boys 6.0720. Moi Equitors Girls 6.0021. Gataragwa Girls 5.8022. Kaheti Boys 5.7023. Birithia Girls 5.6724. Mt. Kenya Academy 5.6025. Ruthagati Sec 5.5026. Nyeri Baptist 5.50

NYERI COUNTY

1. Bunyore Girls 8.59442. Nyang'ori Boys 7.59003. Mudasa Academy 6.96084. International School 6.90005. Shalom Girls 6.64006. Mbale Boys 6.58307. Friends Kaimosi Girls 6.50008. Emusire Secondary 6.44429. Vokoli Girls 6.347510. Vihiga Boys 6.342011. Keveye Girls 6.184412. Kitagwa Pag Sec 5.970013. Chavakali Boys 5.880014. Friends Senende Boys 5.784015. St.Pauls Erusui Girls 5.615016. Ekwanda Sec School 5.420017. Friends Tigoi Girls 5.343018. Esibila Secondary 5.255019. St.Clares Maragoli G. 5.231520. Igunga Girls 5.1000

VIHIGA COUNTY

TOP 20 SCHOOLS KIAMBU COUNTYS/N SCHOOL NAME M.S.S. 2016

1 ALLIANCE GIRLS 10.182 MANGU 9.933 ALLIANCE HIGH 9.554 LORETO HIGH 9.475 MARY HILL 9.476 LIMURU GIRLS 8.957 THIKA HIGH 8.178 ST. ANNES LIOKI 8.129 ST.FRANCIS GIRLS HIGH SCH. 7.74

10 MARY LEAKEY 7.6811 KAGWE GIRLS 7.3712 UTHIRU G.H.S 7.1313 ITURU 7.0814 KIAMBU HIGH 7.0315 CHANIA GIRLS 6.9716 CHANIA BOYS 6.7717 KAHUHO UHURU 6.6918 KARINGA GIRLS 6.5719 SENIOR CHIEF KOINANGE 6.5420 J.G.KIEREINI SEC 6.5

1. Moi Kabarak High School 9.662. Anestar Boys Lanet 9.53. Nakuru Girls High School 9.0484. Nakuru Boys High School 8.9635. Anestar Boys 8.9036. Mary Mount Secondary 8.6717. Anestar Victory Boys High 8.6678. Naivasha Girls 8.4889. Elburgon Secondary 8.48810. Goshen Boys High 8.41211. Bahati Girls 8.40712. Utumishi Academy 8.2613. St Clare Academy 8.1314. Molo Academy 7.96615. Rongai Boys 7.94016. Moi Forces Acad. Lanet 7.90517. St Joseph 7.76418. St Gabriel Lanet 7.71419. St Gabriel Mission 7.71420. Njoro Girls 7.597

NAKURU COUNTY

KIAMBU COUNTY

toP scHooLs PEr county in 2016 KcsE

Editor’s Note: This series of 2016 KCSE analysis of other Counties continues in the next issue

Bonventure Olando, Principal St Mary's Yala

School Principal links dorm fire to arson attack

By Erick Nyayiera

St Mary’s Yala principal, Bonventure Olando has attributed the fire incident that gutted one dormitory at the school to arson attack and asked members of the public to help arrest the culprits.

Mr Olando who spoke to Education News after a meeting between the school’s Board of Management (BOM), staff and County Director of Education said the fire broke out at around 9.00 am as the students were on preps.

The principal added that they are yet to establish the extent of the damage that left over 100 students with no clothes and personal belongings.

“The watchmen admitted to seeing two strange men who are believed to have started the fire, attempts by the guards to catch the men failed as they managed to escape from the scene,” he said.

The fire incident also paralyzed the normal learning at the school as the teaching and non-teaching staff were held up in a meeting to discuss the recent evening event.

The, principal, however said the school’s BOM will decide the fate of the students whose belongings were destroyed in the inferno.

He added that most of the affected are Form Four students most of whom had just reported to the school.

Olando said it was a second attempt by the arsonists to burn the dormitories after another dormitory known as Kizito burnt recently destroying property of 45 students.

By Amoto Dennis

Barely a year after the patriarchal Garissa society was shell shocked when Kenya

National Children’s Government elected, Rukia Abdullahi Lohos as their President in Nairobi, the County’s children government have gone against the grain by voting in Sumeya Abdikadir, 16, of Iftin Girls High School as governor

According to Mohamed Giro, a resident, the win is a shocker in a society where women are not allowed to talk in public and whenever they attended a male management meeting, they passively sit behind men.

However, Habiba Aden, a civil activist and a teacher says probably the election of Rukia as national children president has inspired the children in Garissa to elect a female governor.

Hussein Ibrahim of Tetu Primary was elected the Deputy Governor, Yusra Mohamed of Umsalama Girls, the County Speaker and Tetu Primary’s Abdi Mohamed as Deputy Speaker. Habiba adds that Umsalama Girls High too, also reaped big because, the immediate former speaker Yasmin Mohamed was from the school.

Also in attendance at the polls held at Garissa Primary School was Garissa Children Officer Simon Chege, who reminded the attendants that children got prepared for their future leadership roles if they responsively, took part in their own affairs like having their own children’s government.

He said the idea of making children to be involved children’s government meant they are acquiring leadership skills which will eventually lead them to taking leadership positions.

Children make history by electing female governor

Education nEws 7

-

REGIONAL TEACHERS’ TRAINING COLLEGE

“Education for better life”

COURSE OUTLINE/ FEES STRUCTURE 2016 – 2017

CoURSE TITLE mINImUm REQUIREmENT

dURaTIoN/ TUTIoN & BoaRdING

FULL TImE PaRT TImE Certificate ECdE & Proficiency

All form 4 leavers & Std 8 KCPE Certificate pass

1 Year 15,000/= per term

6 Sessions 5,500/= per holiday session

Short Courses & Computer ICT & HIV/aIdS

Open to all students 1 – 3 Months 5,000/= per course

5,000/= per Course

PTE (P1) Certificate course

C Plain & Above 2 Years 15,000/= per term

6 Sessions 10,000/= per session

diploma ECdE C Plain & above or P1 & P2 Teachers or ECDE certificate teachers



diploma SNE C Plain & above or P1 certificate

2 Years 15,000/= per term


diploma dTE (Secondary option)

C+ and above 3 Years 15,000/= per term

NB: Exam body – KNEC

Contact us: P.O BOX 19 – 90138, MAKINDU

Mobile / Phone: 0723 810 642 / 0720 304 391 Email address: [email protected]

Situated at Makindu town along Mombasa – Nairobi Highway in Makueni County.

-












5,000/= per Course
















-












5,000/= per Course
















NB: Exam Body – KNEC

CoURSE oUTLINE / FEES STRUCTURE 2016 - 2017

REGIONAL TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGE“Education for better life”

Our Reporter

The Makindu-based Regional Teachers Training College (RTTC) has over the years

stamped its authority in teacher training nationally.

Located in Makindu town along the Mombasa–Nairobi highway in Makueni County, the college offers diverse training opportunities for school leavers, right from primary to secondary.

For Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) graduates with a pass, they can secure certificate training in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and proficiency at the college, an opportunity that is also open for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) graduates. The college offers PTE (P1) certificate courses for students who score KCSE grade

C and above for a duration of two years.

A one year Diploma in ECDE is offered to students with C plain and above or P1 teachers or ECDE certificate teachers while a 2-year diploma SNE is offered to C Plain and above or P1 certificate.

A three-year Diploma DTE (secondary option) is offered to students with KCSE grade C+ and above.

Other courses offered by the college include short courses in ICT and HIV/Aids awareness which are open to all students and which run for a duration of 1 to 3 months.

Courses offered by the college are affordable, most of them ranging between Sh5,000 and Sh15,000 per course, term or holiday session depending on which course one is taking.

Regional TTC leads the way in teacher training

By Godfrey Wamalwa

In most schools, 4am finds students in deep sleep. But not so at Chesamisi High School, the institution that beat

perennial academic giants in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

The rise of the school in Bungoma County has been carefully crafted inter-nally and the outcome has catapulted the institution started in 1964.

According to the Principal, John Wak-wabubi, Chesamisi aims at remaining in the list of the top 10 in the County, not neces-sarily number one.

“When the results were announced (last year), we shed tears of joy. The first 10 po-sitions are very elusive because everyone has set their eyes there,” he says.

Part of the hard work involved instilling a winning mentality in the students. “We impress upon them the need to work hard,” he states. “We remind them about where we have come from and our ambition. We make them own the vision. We do this at group and individual levels.” he added.

But behind the sterling results are hard-ships. When the school experience teach-ers shortage, the students must work extra hard.

Alongside their teaching duties, the Principal mind administration duties while subject heads handle the academic aspects. Holders of these positions have been given powers to make decisions independently.

Chesamisi rises from ashes to glory

John Wakwabubi, Chesamisi High school Principal

A newly built administration block.

Entrance at Chesamisi High School


“If, for any reason, they cannot handle these issues, they escalate them to one of the Deputy principals. Because of that hierarchy, some teachers do not even know how my of-fice looks like, we meet in the staff room where we discuss all issues,” explains the Principal.

In last year’s KCSE exams, the school had a mean score of 7.3254 . Of the 295 candi-dates who sat the exams, 5 got A- 35 scored B+, 43 B, 55B-, 55C+, 52C, 35C-, 13D+, 1D and 1D- .

That’s an amazing feat, but to the teach-ers, it was no surprise. They had monitored the trend and knew they would post their best results ever.

“Our target is usually to complete the syl-labus in the First Term by teaching both day and night and involving all the subject teach-ers in the teaching process. That leaves the

students with two terms for revision,” says Mr Wakwabubi, adding: “It is also during that period that we concentrate on the areas where the students have problems.”

Wakwabubi also applauded the efforts and strategies put in place by Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’i and other stake-holders in the sector to curb exam cheating, saying it has opened an avenue to deserving students to pursue courses in the university.

He also attributed the school’s success to their engagement in non-academic activities and said games such as soccer and handball instill discipline.

The sky is the limit for the school, which the Principal says provides the best conditions

“We have always encouraged discipline and character building among our students, coupled with a strong religious foundation. There is also teamwork and co-operation between teachers and parents,” he added.

In its history, Chesamisi recorded the highest number of students who surpassed direct entry to public universities.

“I don’t believe in a school coming out of nowhere with great results. It means something specific happened that particu-lar year and the circumstances might not be the same the year that follows,” he said.

The students are inspired by alumni who have excelled in various professions and who are often invited to the school to give motivational talks aimed at inspiring students to excel like they did.

The school is proud to have produced some of the great minds in the country namely, Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Gov-ernor Moses Akaranga, High Court Judge Smokin Wanjala, Prof. Samuel Ipara of Kibabii University and Prof. Chris Wanjala among others.

for any student willing to do well. A cool and serene learning environment also contributes to the students’ success. The trees and hills are enough to strengthen a tired mind and encour-age any student to work harder.

education news8

List of Relief Teachers to receive pay arrearsjanuary 27 - february 10, 2017

education news 9january 27 - february 10, 2017

From page 1

In an Internal Memo (TSC/DDFS/RELIEF TEACHERS) dated January 12, 2017, Mrs Ochieng ordered Digit Heads to submit to her office the list of teachers whose salary arrears have already been cleared.

The memo copied to the Director Human Resource Management and Development, Senior Deputy Director Human Resource Management and Deputy Director Human Resource Management states in part: “There are 1,125 teachers who had not been paid salaries as at November 2016 as per the attached list.

“You are required to call for these files, and ensure that the teachers are fully paid their dues. For teachers who have already been paid, please give a list to this office by January 16, 2017.”

In October 2015, the Commission contracted 10,000 ‘Relief Teachers’ for three months to stand in for striking teachers. However, in April 2016 TSC appointed 882 out of the lot on permanent and pensionable terms of service.

Through an Internal Memo dated May 3, 2016 addressed to the Acting Senior Deputy Director Human Resource Management, Evelynne Mitei, the Director for Human Resource Management and Development, Josephine Maundu confirmed that 882 ‘Relief Teachers’ who had been contracted in October had been appointed on permanent and pensionable terms of service.

“A number of ‘Relief Teachers’ have now been appointed on permanent terms of service. It is advisable that the records of these teachers be merged as you open files. Attached is a list of the teachers from Teacher Management and loose teachers’ documents to facilitate opening of the files,” she said in the memo addressed to

County Directors.The Commission through an Internal

Memo signed by the Acting Director Teacher Management, Mary Rotich had terminated the service of the 10,000 ‘Relief Teachers’ only for TSC to turn round stating that they had absorbed 882 on permanent and pensionable terms of service.

Rotich’s memo dated December 30, 2015 addressed to County Directors stated in part: “This is to advise you that the ‘Relief Teachers’ engaged should not continue their services after the expiry of the three months contract.”

According to sources at TSC Secretariat, the 882 ‘Relief Teachers’ were retained as a stop gap measure to replace regular tutors who have official permission to be away from classroom for valid reason(s), and therefore not actively involved in teaching.

And being a quick-fix measure, the Commission retained the lot to hold brief for those who are temporarily out of service either due to Study leave, transfer of service, sickness, Leave of absence, interdiction, suspension, or on Maternity leave but were still nominally under the TSC payroll. They could also be on Leave with or without pay.

The Commission has reportedly settled on the recruitment of stand-in-teachers every year after emerging that the body was perpetually facing teacher shortfalls occasioned by absence of tutors from their stations with the official knowledge of their employer for a period of time.

This cadre of teachers is also to replace those on release to Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET).

See teachers on Teacher Management register on page 8 & 9

Relief Teachers to get salary arrears

Relief Teachers to get pay boom

10 EDUCATION NEWS

By Kiptanui Rutto

Londiani Boys High School recently celebrated its ster-

ling performance in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations af-ter producing two pupils among the top 10 in Ker-icho County. Kipkoskei Bernard Chu-mo and Kibet Elvis post-ed an impressive grade A- of 10.86 and 10.57 points respectively. A to-tal of 17 students scored a mean grade of B+, 29 candidates scored B, 43 B-, 40 C+, 52 C, 22 C- and 13D+.

The school which re-cently commemorated its Golden Jubilee managed a mean score of C+ of 7.1147 points.

The school which has been crippled by numer-ous student unrests and disruptions in the learn-ing calendar in the past, has shed off this ugly past as shown by improve-ment in its academic per-formance.

Londiani Boys record-ed a drop in its mean score of 7.11 points compared to 8.990 in 2015, 8.688 in 2014, 7.9 in 2013 and 8.2 in 2012. The number

Londiani Boys: An academic pillar in South Rift

Principal, Joseph Korir.

Resource Centre.

The school gate.

Deputy Principal, Administration, Geoffrey Matel.

Deputy Principal, Academic, Samuel Rop.

Students during second selections.

of students who get direct entry to university from the school has meanwhile been growing.

Mr. Joseph Korir, the Londiani Boys Princi-pal said that it has been a struggle to bring the school to its present status. He thanks the community for their support, adding that the adage ‘no pain no gain’ applies to what has taken place at the school. Korir recognizes the pillars that has made the school real-ize its potential and made it possible for the institu-tion to take advantage of all available opportunities.

“It is these pillars that

tered all over Kenya as well as overseas.

He praised the school’s Board of Trustees, Board of Directors and the adminis-tration for their exemplary

LONDIANI BOYS 2016 KCSE RESULTS

work. “Their focus on the key issues of the school has enabled us to advance to a self-revolving educational enterprise. All students,

parents and staff have rolled up their sleeves and ready to work even harder in 2017,” said Mr. Korir.

Principal with two best students Kipkosgei Bernard Chumpa and Kibet Elvis.

have enabled the school to celebrate 50 years of its ex-istence as it strives to con-tinuously improve. This is the reason I appreciate the role played by all stake-holders and the Alma mater of Londiani Boys for being the best ambassadors,” said Mr. Korir. Former students of Londiani Boys are scat-

jANUAry 27 - fEbrUAry 10, 2017

education news 11

By Kiptanui Rutto

Saseta Girls High School has proved to be one of the aca-demic powerhouses in Mogo-

gosiek, Bomet County, after it posted impressive results in the 2016 KCSE examinations.

In 2016, Saseta managed an A-, 12B+, 15Bs, 21B- and 40C+ among other grades. 89 candidates out of 161who sat the exam qualified for direct university entry.

Living up to its motto: ‘The Am-bitious Saseta Queens,’ the premier

Saseta Girls High School posts excellent KCSE results

School Founder, Mr Zablon Tele. Chairman of the Board,Mr Julius Tuei.

Area MP Sammy Koech.

BOM members.

Saseta High Schoo gate.

Administration and Tuition block.

institution has, since its inception in 1979 and with the help of a local AIC Church elder, Mr. Zablon Tele and the local community led by the then area councilor the late Kiplangat Koech, consistently registered tremendous improvement over the years.

With the recent Ministry of Edu-cation Cabinet Secretary Matiang’i strict measures that saw most schools drop in performance, Saseta Girls was not an exception. In 2013, the school posted a mean score of 8.26, in 2014 8.90 and in 2015, the school posted

their highest mean of 9.08, but in 2016 it dropped to 6.83 which, however, put it ahead of several other schools. Cur-rently, the enrolment level stands at 710 students.

The school has 34 members of the teaching staff with 17 being contracted by Board of Management (BOM) and 25 support staff.

The Principal, Mary Chirchir, speak-ing to Education News in her office said their resilience and focus has driven the school to greater heights in performance and infrastructure development.

Ms Chirchir said the institution’s vision is to mold the girl-child into a competitive and responsible citizen by providing a rigorous and personal-ized education anchored on training and mentorship. She said the premier school’s ultimate goal is to be a model of excellence and discipline that enables the girl-child achieves full potential.

Saseta Girls has a state-of-the-art tuition block, modern administration complex and a luxurious school bus which students use during educational

trips. Besides academic pursuits, the Saseta Girls also excels in co-curruc-ular activities. It has a School Band, sport department and other facilities which help the girls to unwind after studies.

In its 2015-2019 Strategic Plan launched by the school, it outlines several ambitious projects that will see the school grow steadily. This in-cludes core values, curriculum im-plementation and ICT integration.

Saseta Girls Secondary School Thanks Giving Day, centre is the School Principal, Mary Chirchir.

1. Chesang Mercy A-2. Chepkorir Bicoty B+3. Chebet Linet B+4. Naserian Mary B+5. Kaptich Joan Chebet B+6. Nelly Cheptoo B+7. Mogwambo Joyce B+8. Cherono Faith B+9. Caren Chepkemoi B+10. Joan Cherotich B+11. Cherotich Edit B+12. Chemutai Sheila B+13. Caren Chepkirui B+14. Chelangat Mercy B15. Chebet Dorothy B16. Chemutai Caren B

Saseta Girls KCSE performanec list

17. Netaya Yudias B18. Stella Chepngeno B19. Faith Chepkoech B20. Ngelechei Judith B21. Chebet Judith B22. Cherono Sharon B23. Chepkirui Tonui B24. Chepngeno Evaline B25. Paranai Naomi B26. Chepkorir Floridah B27. Chepkemoi Mercy B28. Chepngetich Faith B29. Chebet Caren B30. Otieno Cynthia B31. Junita Ngetich B

january 27 - february 10, 2017

12 EDUCATION NEWS

By Kiptanui Rutto

It is not only in Bomet County that when you mention Chebonei Girls and someone will tell you

of its quality education, the name is among the few trending across the country.

The school was started by the Mis-sionaries of African Gospel Church in 1947 for both boys and girls, and has grown to a fully girls school nur-turing them to protect the integrity of a woman.

The school, which the 2nd First Lady of Kenya, the late Lena Moi, studied, posted a mean score of 7.192 registering two A-, six B+, 15 B plain, 16B- and 29C+ giving a total of 68 students qualifying for direct entry to university. Only 36 students scored below C+. Currently, the school boasts of a student population of over 400.

The school has also made tremen-dous step in co-curricular activities to National levels like in Student Con-ference. It also emerged the most dis-cipline school in the sub-county.

Speaking to Education News in her office, the school Principal, Mrs Margaret Kirui said coming from a

Chebonei Girls does it again

refugee camp for girls in 1940s to now a big school was not a walk in the park. She said its main function was to save the girls from initiation and spread the anti Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) but now, it is a centre of excellence in saving the girls from ignorance and spearhead-ing the fruits of education.

1. Chepkoech Dorcas A-2. Seyanoi Doreen A-3. Chelangat Faith B+4. Chepkemoi Edith B+5. Cherotich Fancy B+6. Cherotich Winrose B+7. Cherop Sharon B+8. Chepkemoi Joan B+9. Chepkoech Mercy B10. Chepngetich Joan B11. Chesang Mercy B12. Chepkirui Faith B13. Chepkoskei Gladys B14. Chepkemoi Deborah B15. Naisoi Jenniffer B16. Chepngetich Dorcas B17. Cherotich Faith B18. Chebet Betsy B19. Chemutai Sharon B20. Chemutai Daisy B21. Chepkemoi Jedidah B22. Chepngena Tabitha B23. Chepkoech Eddah B24. Chepngetich Scholar B-25. Chepkemoi Gloria B-26. Chepkemoi Daisy B-27. Gloria Atieno Ochieng B- 28. Chepkoech Purity B-29. Cherono Susan B-30. Chebet Sharon B-31. Sefrose Naimutie B- 32. Chelangat Susan B-33. Chepkemoi Caren B-34. Chebet Clare B- 35. Chepkirui Naomy B- 36. Chepkorir Maureen B-37 Chepkoech Mercy B-38. Chepngetich Daisy B-

Chebonei Girls performance 2016 list

BOM Chairman, Rev Reuben Koech.

PTA Chairman, Ronald Bett.

Head of Guidance and Councelling, Caro Ronoh

Principal, Margaret Kirui. Deputy Principal, Emmy Langat.

Old Girls.

Tuition block.

Lena Moi Memorial Dormitory.

School gate.

“Our school got the name Chebonei from being a refuge of FGM targeted girls, that means the kids of a sheep. We are proud that among the early students are Lena Moi who studied arithmetic here in 1952, the school closed doors when the girls were taken to Kipsigis girls but later resumed in 2002,” Kirui said.

Other old girls of Chebonei include Esther Sitienei, Violet Too, Alice Si-gira, Rebecca Koros, Hellen Itembe, Rebecca Chumo, Sofia Chelule, Recho Mitei,Catherine Kamoigo, Rebecca Ker-ich, Amna Lily Kerich and Bornes Nyan-gacha.

The Principal said its first mean score was 5.8 in 2005 and has been performing well since. She said in November 2014, the current Baringo Senator, Hon. Gideon Moi visited the school which has one of its state-of-the-art dormitory named after the late Lena Moi.


13EDUCATION NEWS

From page 1

These payments were to be shared proportionately by three unions, namely University Academic Staff Union (UASU), University Non-academic Staff Union (UNTESU) and Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospital and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA).

“The remaining Sh3.9 billion (i.e. second half of the requirement) was to be paid in the context of the 2010/2013 Medium Expenditure Framework Budget,” added the document.

According to UASU National Chairman, Prof Muga K’Olale part of the payment proceeds was misappropriated by unscrupulous individuals within University Councils, who diverted the cash to fund unnamed academic programmes and projects in Public universities.

In December 2012, UASU presented 2013/2017 CBA proposal which, to date, the Inter-Public Universities Council Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) has failed to respond to.

In the proposal, it is suggested that Professors should earn Sh999, 030, rising to a maximum of Sh1, 562,625 a month, with a House allowance of Sh250, 000.

Associate Professor to pocket Sh740,020 shooting to a maximum of Sh1,157,466 a month with an accompanying House allowance of Sh190,000.

The lowest paid person in the Academic Rank should be Graduate Teaching Assistant who should earn Sh196,657 rising to a maximum of Sh331,525 with a House allowance of Sh130,000 while Assistant Lecturer or Tutorial Fellow to pocket a monthly salary of Sh300,775

climbing to a maximum of Sh470,444 with a House allowance of Sh135,000.

It is proposed that Lecturers earn Sh406, 050 rising to a maximum of Sh635, 097 with accompanying House allowance of Sh145, 000 while Senior Lecture should earn Sh548, 163 climbing to a maximum of Sh857, 384 with a House allowance of Shs160, 000.

This CBA has never been discussed with University Councils and this is the reason Unions have resorted to industrial action.

After the Government declined to honour the 2010/13 CBA, UASU opted to push for the 2013/2017 CBA whose signing and subsequent implementation is long overdue.

This CBA was scheduled to be implemented from July 1, 2013 as it comes to an end on June 30, 2017, to pave way for the 2017 to 2021 CBA which has yet to be drawn.

“The 2013/2017 CBA articulates four items that in UASU’s conviction will

attract, maintain and retain qualified and skilled academic workers in numbers and at the rates the economy of Kenya requires their services.

“Two of these items are the traditional basic salary and House allowance which need enhancement to make up for inflation and eroded purchasing power of the shilling due to both external and internal economic pressures that the workers have experienced during the period of the elapsed 2010/2013 CBA. The other two items are mortgage facility and car loan scheme,” states the proposed CBA.

If the 2010/2013 CBA was to be implemented in full, Tutorial Fellow or Assistant Lecturers (Grade 11) would have earned Sh54,582 rising to a maximum of Sh103,717 with a House allowance of Sh51,601, while Lecturers (Grade 12) would have earned Sh65,192 rising to a maximum of Sh123,722, with a House allowance of Sh55,286.

Grade 13 employees who comprises of Senior Lecturers were to earn Sh73, 680

rising to a maximum of Sh140, 775 with a House allowance of Sh58, 972, with Associate Professors (Grade 15) pocketing Sh96,157 climbing to a maximum of Sh180,034 with a House allowance of Sh66,344 while full Professors (Grade 14) were to earn Sh113,140 reaching a maximum of Sh220,414 with accompanying House allowance of Sh73,715.

K’Olale, however, says the perks and other components as per the 2010/2013 CBA were not implemented in full bringing into question the commitment of the Government to addressing the CBAs it signs with Unions.

The CBA, however, states that individual University Councils and respective Union Chapters were to initiate and conclude structured negotiations on other terms and conditions of service to cover the 2010/2013 CBA subject to the abilities of the respective Councils. This never took place and IPUCCF has never explained to the staff why the negotiations never took place.

Why Kenyan varsity staff are poor

By John Machio

Thousands of school-going children in North Eastern region are in dire need of relief food following withdrawal of

World Food Programme (WFP) from sup-porting School Feeding Programme in Kenya, Education News has learnt.

The UN body has stopped with immediate effect supporting the Kenya School Feeding Programme, citing logistical challenges and lack of adequate funds.

This, indeed, is a blow to the Kenya Gov-ernment, and in particular schools in North Eastern, North Rift, Lower Eastern and some pockets in the Coastal Region who heavily rely on food donations from WFP to attract and retain children in class in these Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

Briefing the Press on the new develop-ment, the Assistant National Treasurer of Ke-nya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Ali Abdi Hussein said it was a devastating blow to families in Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and other parts of the country where WFP supports School Feeding Programme.

The top Union official said unless the Na-tional Government urgently puts in place stop-gap measures to contain the life-threatening situation, all schools, including Early Child-hood Development Education (ECDE) centres will shut down in a matter of days.

He said teachers, learners, parents and guardians and officers working in the Gov-ernment offices, including Teachers Service Commission County offices are also faced with an acute water shortage which has made life unbearable in the drought hit region.

“WFP wrote to the Government last November disclosing their intention to stop funding and providing food supplies to local schools, however, the information was never made public until the other day. NEP is now in a fix as we don’t have immediate plans for contingency measures to contain the worsen-ing situation,” said Abdi.

The official who hails from the region, however, appealed to the National Govern-ment to initiate moves that would alleviate the situation before schools close down.

“The feeding programme has collapsed as schools continue to be hit by the ongoing drought. Timely interventions are required at this point in time, including the release of Free Primary Education (FPE) funds and the Subsidized Day Secondary Education (SDSE) funds,” he stated.

Failure to do this, Abdi observed, the en-tire Education calendar for 2017 would be dis-rupted, a situation that could easily lead to poor performance in national examinations and co-curriculum activities.

The KNUT official who sits on various Education Boards in the vast North Eastern

Region said par-ents and guard-ians in the region due to the bit-ing famine can-not raise enough funds as the eco-nomic mainstay in the area which is Livestock fetches low prices due to the devastating drought.

“The County governments should now provide water trucking and storage facilities for all schools in the region,” said Abdi.

Attempts to get comments from WFP Sec-retariat in Nairobi were futile, while Director-General for Education, Leah Rotich and the National Chairman of Kenya National Asso-ciation of Parents, Nicholas Maiyo were re-portedly locked up in meetings by the time of going to Press.

The School Feeding Programme which currently covers 1.2 million children was implemented in 1980s. It was used primarily to incentivize the enrolment, and retention of children in ASAL areas.

WFP provides school meals to more than 30 million children every year throughout the world. The programme includes meals for pu-pils and students and high-energy biscuits or

snacks at schools where a crisis or emergency has struck. WFP also provides take-home ratios to families with children who attend school regularly.

Crisis in NEP schools as WFP cuts food supplies

Ali Abdi Hussein

Child labour is prevalent in the North Eastern region and authorities are under pressure to tame the vice if chil-dren are to remain in school.


SCHEDULE I C- NEGOTIATED BASIC SALARY.

CBA 2012/2013 GRADE SALARY SCALE IN KSHS. PER MONTH PROFESSOR(15) Kshs 150,589 X 4907- 180,034 X 8078- 220,414 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR(14) Kshs 127,985 X 4,263- 140,775 X 4,907- 180,034 SENIOR LECTURER(13) Kshs 98,068 X 2824- 103,717 X 4001-123,722 LECTURER(12) Kshs 86,771 X 2824- 103,717 X 4001- 123,722 ASSISTANT LECTURER/ TUTORIAL FELLOW(11) Kshs 72,649 X 2824- 103,717.

GRADUATE ASSISTANT Kshs 39,753 X 1238- 53,369

Current Lecturers' Salaries (Negotiated 2010-2013 CBA)

education news14

readers corner

Hello Mr Editor, I am one of the perennial and adept readers of your paper 'Education News'

from Migori County. I do appreciate your team's dedication and commit-ment to keep us informed. However, I

would love to know if your correspon-dents or your desk welcomes views, opinions or at times classified tip offs from your readers for considerations and follow ups..?

Secondly, there's your colleague

Mr John Ochieng, kindly let him have my contact we need to offer him some educational info to help pursue. Thank you in advance.

[email protected]

feedbackEducation News doing a good job

The Editor welcomes brief letters on topical issues. Write to the Editor P.O. Box 7732 - 00100 or Email: [email protected] / [email protected] The views expressed on this page are not of Shrend Publishers Ltd. The Editor reserves the right to edit the letters.

Teachers were happy to read from papers that local travel allowances were raised W.E.F

March 1, 2010. What about when a teacher officially represents the country outside?

The following teachers took part in Special Olympics in Athens, Greece in 2011 and were not paid their subsistence allowance.

They were Fredrick Nawade, Rich-ard Omaseme, Antony Njihia, Jack-line Tabya, Saum Walegwa (retired) and the late Carolyne Oswego. The answer given by TSC is that payment for such claims were suspended until further notice through TSC Circular No 4/2012 dated May 24, 2012. If we travelled in 2011 before the the circular, then we must be paid. TSC has, how-ever, refused. (Mnyonge hana haki). Mr Nawade travelled to Morocco in June 2010, to Greece in 2011 and to Los An-geles, US in 2015 and all were claimed for. Fredrick Nawade, Butula

TSC should clarify rules on teachers’ travel

allowancesWhy call 648 non-principal teachers for in-

terviews when you have principals in mind for promotion and give all the promotions

to principals? This is total fraud and abuse of human rights.

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) must come out clearly and tell us that job group ‘P’ and above be-longs to principals. National Treasury gave over Sh2 bil-lion for promotion of teachers not principals in second-ary schools alone. What will happen to long serving and dedicated teachers who may never be principals?

They do the most important duties, i.e. teaching in class (which principals in secondary schools don’t), they are deputy principals/senior HODS, HODS etc. respon-sibilities they are not paid for yet principals have access

to school funds for personal use (Embezzlement). Some of these teachers have diligently served for more years than principals and have Masters and PhD Degrees. Why deny them entry into job group P and above. It is a fact that all teachers cannot be principals. Who will fight for the non-principal teachers in secondary schools?

We also know that principals’ jobs are acquired cor-ruptly, is TSC rewarding corruption? Let principals’ jobs be advertised and people interviewed openly.

If the job of Chief Justice is given through open ad-vert and interviews who are principals to be appointed through backdoor at this time and age in Kenya?

Remember that some of the teachers left out for job group P promotion have served in N for more than 10 years yet upgrade principals that have been in N for four

and three years only. tsc should adopt the civil servants method whereby after three years in a job group one moves to next so that we can put to an end this scam and sham.

Vet all principals’ bank and M-pesa accounts and you will find that they are grandmasters of corruption that would make Traffic Police Officers look like ama-teurs or child play in corruption. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) should also come in and investigate TSC dealings for it seems job group P is for SALE to the highest binders i.e. principals.

GOD have mercy on non-principal teachers in sec-ondary schools for you are their refuge AMEN.

- John Kasiga, via email

Non Principal teachers are doomed

By Elijah Nyaanga

Change of management at Gesabakwa SDA Mixed Secondary School has seen the institution not only register

tremendous growth in student population, but also assert its academic prowess in Ma-saba South Sub-County, Kisii County.

Since Gideon Giteya Maraga commonly referred as GG took over as the principal in 2013, the school, that was grounded, has seen the student population triple from 120 to 350 students. Mr. Maraga was promoted from Gekonge DEB Mixed Secondary where he was the Deputy Principal.

The school has 12 Teachers Service Com-mission (TSC) teachers and four others who are employed by the Board of Management (BOM). They have a deficit of five teachers according to the Curriculum Based Establish-ment (CBE). The institution has 10 members of support staff and non-teaching staff.

In 2016’s Kenya Certificate of Second-ary Education (KCSE) exams, the school re-corded a mean score of 3.2 with candidature enrolment of 66 students.

In an interview with Education News, the Principal commended the good working relationship with the staff and political good-will, which he noted are some of the factors that have seen the school climb the academic ladder to rub shoulders with top performing schools in the sub-county.

Mr Maraga said the school combines academics and extra-curricular activities to

Principal Gideon Maraga in his office.

Athletics team with their Principal (right) after representing the school

at the regional level.

Principal Gideon Maraga inspecting the Dairy project.

School Administration block.

Nyaribari Masaba MP, Elijah Moindi waves students during the

groundbreaking ceremony at the school in August 2016

take charge and address spiritual challenges facing students so as to make them responsible members of the society once they complete their studies.

Strengths/achievementsThe school has one of the best Science

laboratories in the Sub-county that were con-structed back in 2015.

The institution’s well-stocked library pro-vides students with textbooks and revision ma-terials. It has an Information Technology (IT) section to equip students with computer skills so as to enable them tackle technological is-

sues effectively in the society on completion of their studies. However, in light of the rising student numbers, the Principal has appealed to both the National and County governments to put a computer lab and expand the library.

The school head confirmed that they are currently constructing seven classrooms; four of them being funded by CDF while parents are funding the rest, three. He said all the classrooms will be ready for use before July 2017. He applauds Nyaribari Masaba Member of Parliament Elijah Mosomi Moindi for sup-porting the school through improvement of its varous infrastructural facilities.

The principal revealed they also offer French, Home Science and Woodwork with TSC employed teachers handling the subjects. The school has dairy project, an income gener-

ating project (IGAS) among other facilities.ChallengesA looming challenge that is likely to hit

the school, Mr. Maraga noted, is land scarcity, due to the growing student population. The Day School infrastructural facilities are set on a two-acre piece of land.

“We don’t have enough land for expansion yet the students population is on the rise. We don’t have a play ground and where we can put up staff quarters and have already written to the County Government to allocate us some land from the neighboring community land to enable us expand,” the principal noted.

The Principal appealed that some of the other challenges that are bedeviling the school

include lack of water among other infrastruc-tural facilities.

He appealed to the National and Coun-ty governments to intervene and address the challenges slowing down the school’s growth.

Some of the classrooms under construction.

School gate.enable students realise their talents and capi-talize on them. The school has successfully participated in ballgames, athletics and mu-sic festivals up to regional level.

The Principal said they have employed a chaplain, Pastor Emily Kwamboka, who will

Gesabakwa Secondary shines under new leadership

Despite the news appearing in Education News dated Decem-ber 20, 2016 to January 5, 2017

on page 32. Supervisors, Invigilators and Field Officers for KCSE 2016 have not been paid as has been reported. We are waiting in vain to be paid.

- Njogu Mureithi, via email

KNEC yet to pay us

january 27 - february 10, 2017


By Kurgat Martin Seronei

The interventions which have seen more than 11 university campuses closed across the country should

be applauded for seeking to bring back sanity in higher education despite soci-ety’s thirst for degree certificates.

The actions are in line with Presi-dent Uhuru Kenyatta’s order freezing the establishment of new universities to give focus on strengthening existing institutions and providing more techni-cal and vocational training.

The President issued the directive after awarding charters to eight new universities at a ceremony held at State House, Nairobi.

The intervention by the Head of State was not only timely but a clear show that Uhuru must have been ad-vised by the report on the unstable fi-nancial state of almost all public uni-versities in the country.

The worst hit being Kenyatta, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Maseno, Kisii, Techni-cal University, Dedan Kimathi, Pwani, Multimedia and University of Eldoret.

Ever since President Kenyatta or-dered a freeze on establishing new universities to focus on quality, many institutions of higher learning have heeded the order.

Moi University has joined the grow-

ing list of universities that are shutting down their satellite campuses to adhere not only to the resource pressure but also to the tough guidelines issued by Commission for University Education (CUE) which regulates Higher Educa-tion in the country.

The University has announced the closure of its Kericho and Nakuru cam-puses. The Nakuru campus had about 100 students while Kericho had about 300 students.

According to Prof Isaac Kimengi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Aca-demics, Research and Extension, the two campuses will be closed so that the University can consolidate its resourc-es to run core business as it were.

However, Moi Univerrsity had to quit Nakuru and Kericho mainly be-cause of lack of students which both institutions had a total of 400 only.

Unfortunately, the campuses that were to be shut down due to their in-ability to offer quality degree pro-grammes are campuses that belong to newly found universities: Laikipia, Kisii, and Kabarak respectively.

Worse still, financial crisis has seri-ous implications on all other universi-ties leading to poor services and exodus of academic staff seeking better pay in other countries, which in turn lowers academic standards in the higher insti-tutions of learning.

Studies indicate that these con-straints, especially the bad financial situations, have led to the management resorting to deliberate mismanagement of these public universities.

In fact, some have resorted to un-ethical practices in an effort to attract students of the lower cadre and who do not meet entry requirements. They have relaxed academic standards and even advertising for unrelated pro-grammes and so as to attract more ap-plicants – an immoral business caused by nothing other than financial needs and constraints already existing.

Public universities have resorted to setting up of satellite campuses at the expense of quality education where only part-time lecturers are now in charge.

The Commission of University Edu-cation has on several occasions warned of stern action if such institutions don’t close the campuses, citing inadequate facilities, poor infrastructure and learn-ing environment.

It is true that in order to survive, these institutions may not be having basic things like libraries, lecture halls, Internet and laboratories to facilitate effective studying. However, in order to raise extra revenue, they have to em-ploy mechanisms like introducing un-warranted academic programmes.

It must be remembered that in the

last two de-cades, there has been tre-mendous in-crease in the growth of u n i v e r s i t y education, but with a soaring levels of dis-order, hence compromising quality.

Initially, the institutions grew with careful plan-ning contrary to today’s when private investors have come in to do business ending up in an expansion spree in to-tal disregard of quality and academic standards.

However, the Commission and the President must be applauded for taking timely action in an effort to bring back sanity in the growth of universities de-spite society’s thirst for degree educa-tion. However, these institutions must also be innovative to survive in these hard economic times!!!

Mr Kurgat Martin Seronei is a Lecturer at the School of Information Sciences.Moi University- [email protected]

Bring back sanity in university education

By Harrison Mwirigi Ikunda

Whenever I happen to take a walk around the centre of Nai-robi City from late afternoon

to early evening hours I see hordes of students either going to or out of the several university campuses in town.

This is replicated in numerous other towns with universities and other ter-tiary institutions across the country.

Higher education particularly at the University level has grown in access with the increase and spread in num-bers of public and private universities since the 1990s.

Evening classes in particular has revolutionary access and many who would start at lower tertiary levels or who would gain some financial clout after getting gainful employment have found their way to university. The zeal is really encouraging.

Since the advent of parallel pro-grammes by public universities cou-pled with the government open policy to encourage private investments in universities, the phenomenal increase in degree programmes and scholars is encouraging.

We have issues with quality in a number of cases or programmes as well, but with requisite regulations and inspections plus capacity building this will be surely be a thing of the past.

Nonetheless, good education is a game changer for any country. No country has ever developed without greater investments in education. The challenge could be why we are not finding earth shaking innovations with exception of ICT sector where we are seeing plenty of developments of appli-cations solutions?

Why with all this accumulation of knowledge and skills are we falling be-hind in some areas such as in national integration, job creation, accountability

in leadership and in attracting requisite investments badly needed in the coun-try?

Why are we suffering mass exits of investors in crucial sectors like manu-facturing? Why do we keep complain-ing of poor leadership at all levels yet you look at incremental growth in num-ber of educated people?

Don’t be surprised after 2017 elec-tions we will be back to our whining ways on the leadership at counties and national levels. Don’t be surprised that we will be accusing the National As-sembly and Senate for sleeping on the job.

Don’t be surprised we will still be worried that we are not finding solutions to poverty, unemployment, tribalism, corruption and youth radicalization. Methinks we are a country that epito-mizes hypocrisy. That is one big reason that we have been unable to fight vices like tribalism and corruption.

So long as he/she is accused of any of the said evils is one of our own in terms of tribe he/she cannot be wrong. They are just being finished by mali-cious political or so elements.

If anybody is in doubt that Kenya is a knowledgeable community just scan around and see enrolment in uni-

versities. Just check the work-ing population that is going back to school. Just look at the growing numbers of post graduates.

The other day I sent some research officers to find out a good estimate of the number of Professors and PhD hold-ers who are Kenyans either working in the country or out. By the mere sampling of those working in Universities and some organizations here in Kenya you would be im-pressed by the yearly growth in numbers.

We can truly build a robust educated population in time. Nonetheless, beyond academic and professional qualifications we should start also getting solutions for the numerous

problems afflicting Kenya.Part of it will involve par-

taking silently as well as in or-ganized civic education in finding so-lutions to our political, economic and social problems malaise much of which look to jinx Kenya unnecessarily.

Obviously, I would encourage more expansion of education and greater en-rolment. But at the same time I would urge professionals or rather the well educated that they owe this nation ideas on how to overcome many of the prob-lems we find ourselves engulfed in.

Harrison Mwirigi Ikunda.The Writer Is A Researcher And Consultant

Why can’t Kenyans transfer zeal for education to problem solving?

Some of the graduands during the fifth graduation ceremony at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in Nyeri recently.

opinion

16 EDUCATION NEWS jANUAry 27 - fEbrUAry 10, 2017

The enhanced Aon Group Life and Last Expenses (Funeral) Covers are one of the most admired and

treasured components of the TSC Medical Scheme which was renewed last October, a media survey reveals.

It is also emerging that the Group Life and Last Expenses Covers are held dearly, and highly cherished by teachers as they cushion their families’ budgets in times of financial difficulties brought about by death where Aon Kenya Insurance Limited chips in handsomely whenever the situation/cir-cumstances demand.

It has further been revealed that cases of teachers organizing Harambee (fund rais- ers), and in some extreme cases securing bank/Sacco loans to clear funeral expenses and other associated financial challenges is also on a sharp decline, which can rightly be attributed to the Comprehensive Medical Scheme and Group Life Cover provided by Aon Kenya.

A survey now indicates that teachers

Teachers Reap Benefits from Aon Group Life, Last Expenses Coverenrolled in Aon Medical Scheme and Group Life Cover, which also stretches to Last Ex-pense (Funeral) are already reaping the ben-efits in a grand style.

The beauty of the Scheme, which is in its third year of implementation, is that it assists members to surmount financial constraints that are brought about by the death of the prin-cipal member.

It was noted in some cases, it was ex-tremely difficult for teachers’ families to or-ganize befitting burial ceremonies for their loved ones. The Aon commitment to offer Shs100,000 as funeral expenses to a family is quite encouraging, and indeed, offers timely relief to the bereaved family.

Registering with the Scheme is the wis- est and greatest thing a teacher in the Public Service can ever think of doing, considering the current economic challenges. Indeed, it is against this background that Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is now calling on teachers in their droves to register with the Scheme, and declare their next-of-kin to facilitate time-

ly processing of the benefits, and avoid disputes whenever death visits their families.

The Commission through the Director – Human Resource Man-agement and Development, Mrs. Jo-sephine Maundu has directed Coun-ty Directors to bring to the attention of officers under their jurisdiction and teachers in their respective counties, and ensure compliance of the requirement that Principal members declare their next-of-kin to facilitate timely processing of Aon benefits and avoid disputes as it has been witnessed in the past.

“Teachers Service Com- mis-sion procured and obtained a com-prehensive Medical Scheme for all teachers in its service. The Scheme has a Group Life Cover component which provides for Group Life and Funeral Expenses benefits to de-pendents in the event of a teacher’s death. To this end, it is important that teachers

declare their next-of-kin to facilitate timely processing of benefits and avoid disputes. You are required to bring this to the attention of officers and teachers within your jurisdiction and ensure compliance,” explained Maundu in her newsletter (no 70/20170) addressed to County officials.

In an exclusive interview with Stella Bett of Kesogon Primary School in Trans- Nzoia West Sub-county of Trans-Nzoia County told us that despite mourning her beloved late hus-band, Bernard Sande who passed on in 2015 at St. Luke Hospital in Eldoret, she had a sigh of relief after Aon Kenya offered to clear the hospital bill amounting to Shs 300,000. Aon also gave her, Shs100,000 as last expenses, and another Shs300,000 as Group Life Cover. The late Sande who left behind seven children was laid to rest on August 1, 2015 in Trans- Nzoia West.

“My husband who was a former teacher suffered from brain tumor for years, but due to financial constraints, we were unable to give him the best medical care. If we had enough funds, we would have accessed better medi-cal care and maybe even saved his life.” Mrs. Sande said, “even though the medical cover came in late, when my husband was on his death bed, it really came in handy as it cleared all hospitals biils, and took care of all funeral expenses.”

“Registering with Aon to us was timely. l appeal to my fellow teachers to move with precision and discard cheap, ma-licious and unfounded politics surrounding the Scheme, and register with Aon Comprehensive Medi-cal Scheme and Group Life Cover to reap the benefits. If anything, it’s for the good of the teacher and his/her next of kin,” said Stella.

At the time of Press, hundreds of teachers’ families (thousands of beneficiaries) had received Last Expenses (Funeral) Cover which is paid at a flat rate of Shs100,000 and the Group Life Cover which varies ac-cording to Job Groups with the lowest paid teachers in Job Groups ‘G’ – ‘J’ getting Shs300,000. Those in Job Groups ‘K’ – ‘L’ receive Shs400,000, Job Groups ‘M’ – ‘N’ (Shs500,000) and teachers in Job Groups ‘P’, ‘Q’ and ‘R’ are entitled to Shs700,000.

“Once teachers/families furnish Aon with the necessary documents as provided in the regulations, and upon verification, we imme-diately wire the Shs100,000 for funeral ex-penses, and all entitlements in the Group Life Cover,” says Alice Nyambura the Man- ager Corporate Affairs at Aon Kenya.

Josephine Maundu, Head of Human Resource Management, TSC

TEACHERS SERVICE COMMISSION

TEACHERS NEXT-OF-KIN DETAILS

1. NOTES a) The next of kin will automatically assume the role of legal personal representative. b) Relationship means : Husband/Wife/Son/Daughter/Father/Mother e.t.c c) Any change on the teacher’s records should be communicated immediately by the teacher

to the Commission.

2. NAME TSC No. ID/No. . (Full name in block letters)

3. Date of first appointment as (a) Untrained Teacher (UT) .

(b) Trained Teacher (P/P) .

4. PERMANENT ADDRESS (P. O. Box ,Code , Town .

5. HOME DISTRICT , DIVISION ,LOCATION .

6. DECLARATION:

I, Mr/Mrs/Miss/Dr/Rev/Sr. ,ID/No. .

hereby declare/ nominate the following as my next of kin and dependants:- NEXT OF KIN S/N NAME(S) AGE RELATION CONTACT ADDRESS/PHONE

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

(Please turn to page 2)

Telephone: Nairobi 2892000 0722-208552 Email: [email protected] Website: www.tsc.go.ke

TSC HOUSE KILIMANJARO ROAD UPPER HILL PRIVATE BAG NAIROBI, KENYA

RE: NEXT OF KIN DETAILS FOR TEACHERS.

The teacher service commission procured and obtained a comprehensive medical scheme for all teachers in its service.

The scheme has a group life cover component which provides for group life and funeral expenses benefits to dependants in the event of a teacher’s death.

To this end, it is important that teachers declare their next-of-kin to facilitate timely processing of the benefits and avoid disputes.

You are required to bring this to the attention of officers and teachers within your jurisdiction and ensure compliance.

Attached is a copy of the prescribed next-of-kin for circulation and use.

CIRCULAR NO: 70/2017

TO TSC County Directors

Date: 17th January, 2017


Aon Medical Scheme Attracts Teachers in Big Numbers

Principals after signing the visitors book at Aon stand during the KEPSHA Annual Delegates Conference at Wild Waters Centre in Mombasa.

Teachers enrol for Aon Comprehensive Medical Scheme and Group Life Cover in Nairobi.

A teacher under observation in a medical clinic.

Teachers await to be attended to at Aon Mobile Clinic in Nyeri recently.

Teachers register for the comprehensive Medical Scheme and Group Life Cover administered by Aon Kenya.

A medic of Aon appointed clinic examins the blood pressure of a teacher before prescribing drugs.

By Jackson Okoth

A number of public and private uni-versities suspected to be offering sub-standard programmes face

imminent closure following an audit to be conducted by the regulator.

The Commission for University Educa-tion (CUE) has announced it is conducting a Quality Audit Inspection of all public and private Universities authorised to operate in Kenya.

This, according to the regulator, follows public debate on the quality of University education in the country.

“The Commission wishes to assure

members of the public that it is undertak-ing appropriate measures to safeguard the quality of university education as stipulated in the Universities Act No. 42 of 2012, Uni-versities Regulations 2014 and the Univer-sities Standards and Guidelines, 2014,” said CUE Secretary/CEO, Prof David Some.

The Audit, which commenced on Janu-ary 23 and ends on February 3, this year will focus on among other areas, admission requirements to the degree programmes, quality and integrity of examinations and dissertations and evidence that all academ-ic programmes offered by the university are accredited.

The CUE will also probe reasons as

to why some students have not graduated within the stipulated timelines. Universi-ties will also be required to show mea-sures taken to de-ethicize the academic, non-academic staff and student comple-ments to embrace diversity.

The regulator will also focus on how the university has allocated funds to ca-ter for research and library resources as a percentage of the total institutional bud-gets to raise standards of research.

“Members of the public are invited to inform the Commission of any institu-tion breaching the set Universities Regu-lations, 2014 and the Universities Stan-dards & Guidelines, 2014 in line with the

Universities Act No. 42 of 2012,” said Prof Some.

The law states among others that any person who purports to offer a degree through a university that is not accred-ited commits an offence and shall be li-able upon conviction, to a fine of not less than Sh10 million or to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years or to both.

The audit comes amid concerns with-in the academia, employers and other stakeholders that quality and calibre of lawyers, doctors, engineers, pharmacists and other professionals being churned out of local Universities, is sub-standard.

Anxiety over audit of local varsities

Education nEws18

rift vallEy

baringo

uasin gisHu

By Wasike Elvis and Dennis Bett

Parents across the country have been advised against pay-ing extra fees other than the

amount stipulated by the law.National Parents Association

(NPA) Chairman, Nicholas Maiyo said some schools have gone against the set guidelines by charging par-ents extra fees.

He warned that stern actions will be taken against those violating the stipulated fees guidelines. .

"In the fee guidelines, students in day secondary schools are expected to pay Sh9,374 and those in board-ing schools Sh53,553 while those in special schools pay Sh37,210," he told the press at an Eldoret Hotel recently.

“If any parent is forced to pay more fees, please let us know and we

will take stern action against them. We are here to serve you,” Mr Maiyo added.

He said NPA plans to launch a website where parents could channel their issues and promised to solve them.

He reiterated that those charging extra levies should post the letters of authorisation from the Ministry of Education on the schools’ notice boards to demonstrate that the extra charges were within the law.

On the school lunch feeding pro-gramme that was abolished by Edu-cation ministry, Maiyo urged parents to make arrangements with service providers for students to take their lunch within the institutions.

"We will not allow our children to feed elsewhere since within that one hour lunch break they can be manipulated to engage in destructive activities," he noted

Don’t pay extra fees to schools, parents told

Nicholas Maiyo, Chairman National Parents Association

Twenty-six needy and bright 2016 KCPE students have been

awarded comprehensive secondary school schol-arships by Equity Bank, Wings to Fly programme.

Kabarnet Branch Man-ager, Micah Bett said over 12,488 pupils have ben-efited since the inception of the programme. Speaking during a Flag off ceremony, he said out of the 26 pu-pils, 13 were selected from

Kabarnet while the other 13 come from Eldama Ravine branches.

He lauded the com-munity scholarship selec-tion Board for unwavering support and commitment towards achieving the course.

Mr Bett said the pro-gramme has touched hun-dreds of needy families in their pursuit of excellence in life since inception.

- Alfred Kimosop

Equity awards 26 needy students Wings to Fly

From Left: Seguton Chief, Daniel Cheserem with Equity Bank Kabarnet branch officials led by Manager Micah Bett during the award ceremony for the Wings to Fly beneficiaries.

Equity Bank has sponsored 26 bright but needy 2016 Kenya Certificate of Pri-

mary Education (KCPE) stu-dents from within the county to pursue further education through its Wings to Fly programme.

Speaking outside the bank’s offices in Iten town during the programme launch, Branch Manager Albert Kiprop said the selection was done fairly and considered only the bright but

needy pupils.He said though there were

more than 180 applicants in the county who had achieved 349 marks and above, only top per-formers and needy students were identified after a thorough vet-ting.

“This is our corporate re-sponsibility to provide for the needy to enhance fairness and equity for all,” Kiprop said.

- Dennis Bett

Equity awards 26 students scholarships

ElgEyo MaraKwEt

Needy but bright learners in the County have some-

thing to smile about after the government promised to release the bursary funds which had been waited for the last two financial years.

Governor Cleophas Lagat said the bursary funds would be disbursed start-ing early this year, adding that the county government would release Sh100 mil-lion each financial year.

Dr Lagat who spoke at Kapsabet showgrounds re-cently when he inaugurated the bursary committee said the fund is aimed at enabling needy but bright students in the county to access educa-tion at all levels.

Lagat asked the com-mittee to apply equality, gender and regional balance when giving out the funds to the needy learners.

- Judy Chepcheng

Poor students to benefit from bursary funds

nandi

Some of the students who benefited from school fees during the event. Photo/Judy Chepcheng

The County government has employed 1,000 nursery school teachers and construct-

ed 580 Early Childhood Develop-ment and Education (ECDE) centres to increase access to learning.

Governor Jackson Mandago said employment of the teachers who were fully paid by the County gov-ernment and construction of classes would go a long way in improving the quality of early child education.

“ECDE teachers were poorly and irregularly paid in the past, but their morale is now high since they are assured of regular salary which is a good motivation for them to give their best to the young children,” he said.

Mandago said the government will allocate Sh10.5 million as bur-sary to support needy but bright stu-dents in every ward.

- Dennis Bett

uasin gisHuCounty hires 1000 ECDE teachers

Governor Jack-son Mandago posing for a photo with a pupil at the county offices at a recent function.

Teachers in Molo Sub-County have acknowledged the role played by Teachers Service

Commission (TSC) in providing leadership, credibility, promotion and deployment in the sector.

Led by Molo Sub-County Kenya Primary Heads Associa-tion (Kepsha) Chairman, Robert Mwaura, the teachers, however, asked the Commission to deploy more tutors before emphasizing on appraisals.

He said the country is in dire need of teachers which should be prioritized before rewarding the performance contract teachers

Mr Mwaura who is also the Nakuru County Secretary said 2016 Kenya Certificate for Prima-ry Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate for Secondary Educa-tion (KCSE) results, showed cred-ibility and integrity, something, which should be supported by all in future. - John Njoroge

naKuruTSC urged to employ more teachers

Robert Mwaura, County Secretary and Molo Sub-County Kepsha Chairman.

The release of 2016 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)exami-

nation results shocked both par-ents and education stakeholders in and outside the county when it emerged only four candidates at-tained grade A.

Giants of past years performed poorly where there was also ma-jor drop in the mean score of most tops schools.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Kericho County branch Executive Secretary, Dan-iel Chumo said the results were “shocking and very discouraging” since only four students in the County attained A grades.

“The results are shocking. It seems we still have a lot of work to do to improve standards of educa-tion in this region,” said Mr Chu-mo. - Benedicto Ng’etich

2016 kCSE results shock stakeholders

KEricHo


Education nEws 19

rift vallEybaringo

By Alfred Kimosop

Born in Barbachun, a remote area in Baringo North in 2002, cheerful twins Philip

Kotun and Meshack Kuton all had one thing in common.

The twins of Dinah Chepyator and Reuben Chepyator sometimes shared the same positions in class, thought almost the same and tal-

ented in specific fields.According to the mother the

two identical twins have been supportive of each other at home and school and none would attend school if one fell sick.

The twins scored 368 marks at Saint Mary’s School and have been admitted to Kabarnet High School.

Though the twins did not share

same index number they scored 405 and 406 in KCPE Mock ex-amination.

According to their teacher, the twins sometimes wrote the same composition in class or gave the same answers which amazed teachers and their colleagues.

The fifth born twins in a family of seven want to become pilots in future after their studies.

Twins score same marks, admitted to same schoolPhilip Kipsang Kotun and Meshack Kipchirchir Kuton, the twins who scored the same marks in KCPE prepare themselves for Form One.

Tw e n t y - f o u r needy students from Kapsabet

have benefitted from Sh360,000 which was raised by the ACK church Diocess of Kapsabet.

Speaking when handing over the cheques to the needy students at ACK Kap-

sabet, on behalf of other bishops, Bishop Paul Korir said the beneficiaries were se-lected from the entire archdeaconry.

He said the dream of the church is to en-sure needy students in the County are assist-ed to complete their studies through rais-

ing funds to subsidize their school fees, add-ing that, the initiative has just started and promised to continue with the programme to ensure every needy student achieves his/her goals in life with-out interruption.

-Judy Chepcheng

24 needy students to get school fees

Bishop Paul Korir addressing the media at ACK Church in Kapsabet. Photo by Judy Chepcheng.

nandi

By Wasike Elvis

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Wareng branch Executive Secre-

tary John Boor has questioned the short period used to mark Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

He says the one month dura-tion Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) spent on the exer-cise was not enough to mark, mod-erate and release examination thus exhausting teachers leading to poor

results."One month is abnormally too

short to mark KCSE exams. For KCPE marking it is fine since it has multiple choices but KCSE exams need at least one and a half months," he told Education News in his office recently.

"It is no doubt this made thou-sands of students to score E which cannot take them anywhere," Boor added.

He said while the union is not disputing the minister’s reform measures, he should involve all

stakeholders to avoid disadvantag-ing poor students.

According to Boor while the union appreciates the work of the CS, in future he should consider giving more time for exam mark-ing for students to get credible and transparent results that they worked for.

“We suspect that hasty mark-ing caused many students to get Es since they were exhausted.We will only support reforms aimed at im-proving the quality of education," stated Boor.

knut faults short period used to mark kcse exams

uasin gishu

By Kephas Ayiecha

Ortum Boys High School in West Pokot beat all odds to again post the best results in the County in the 2016

KCSE examinations with a mean of 8.9130.Not even the harsh semi-arid environment where the school is located could deter the candidates from posting excellent grades. The Extra County School beat giants to emerge tops.The school had 11A-, 47B+, 114B, 71B- and 10C+.

There was, however, a slight drop from 2015’s mean score of 9.5086. The results that year were as follows:14 students scored A-, 107B+, 93B, 14B- and 2C+. All the 230 candidates for 2016 KCSE exams managed to gain direct entry to university.

The Principal, Jonathan Siwanyang’ at-tributed the sterling performance to a strong leadership team in the school and united staff.

He said the rapport established between the school management, teachers and the local community including parents and stu-dents enabled the school to consistently per-form exemplarily well in academics.

Siwanyang’ noted that establishing ground for good performance among the students who hail from the hardship area has not been easy. Providing a conducive lear-ing environment has always been an uphill task.

“We provide a conducive environment for every student to excel and that is why they feel comfortable staying in the school away from home,” he said.

The Principal pointed out that the pillars of success have been anchored on timely completion of syllabus and enough time spared for revision.

Ortum Boys leads West Pokot County in KCSE

Principal, Jonathan Siwanyang’ in his office.

The Principal, Jonathan Siwanyang’ with his staff after release of KCSE exam results.

Students carry out Physics practical in the laboratory.

Form Four students in class.

Students on parade.

“We have enough time for revision so the students can engage with teachers to help in spotting areas that need improvement,” he said.

Being a school with majority of students from the marginalised area close monitoring of students is done and personal tuition en-couraged, he said, adding that occasionally the school organises academic days when parents

meet with teachers and their stu-dents to discuss issues of concern.

Siwanyang’ said the method has worked well and scores of stu-dents who were performing poorly finally posted better grades in the final examination.

Sometimes they invite moti-vational speakers from different discipline backgrounds to counsel the students.

“We also ensure we take them for benchmarking tours where they learn, how other students schools with a history of suc-cess, work daily to ensure they succeed,” he pointed out.

“We engage in sporting activities espe-cially football in which we have excelled,” he added.

With a population of over 1,300 students, the Principal said the school’s facilities are overstretched.

The Principal added that since he under-stands the parents, he rarely sends their chil-dren home for school fees during school days, adding that he normally invites their parents and they agree on when they are supposed to clear the fees balances so their children are able to learn without interference.

The school has a track record of success observes the former Principal, Mr. Simon Kachapin who is the current West Pokot County Governor.

Siwanyang’ said the rise of Mr. Kachapin to West Pokot Governor has also motivated students who continuously look up to him as their mentor.

“We are now confident that as a school we shall continue to shine and produce disci-plined students who are able to lead and be useful to society,” he noted.


Education nEws20

cEntralkiambu

murang’a

By Malachi Motano

The government should take a holistic ap-proach in addressing

poor performances by schools in the national exams without limiting full responsibility to the Principal

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Kiambu East Executive Secretary, Clement Gicharu said apart from teachers, there are many other factors that could con-tribute to poor performance for any school.

He identified some of these as students’ ability, how effectively education stake-holders work together and the environment.

According to Gicharu, the government should first explore all internal and exter-nal factors that influence poor performance before taking any action.

He was responding to the recent announcement by Edu-cation Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’i that govern-ment will take action against principals whose schools re-

corded poor results in the last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

“While teachers agree that action needs to be taken to improve performance, Dr Matiang’i’s approach is ridic-ulous and meant to intimidate us. We (KNUT) will not allow him to cause unnecessary fear and panic among the teach-ers. We have been supporting his activities, but on this one, we are not with him and we will not allow him to take that route,”Gicharu said recently.

KCSE 2016: Matiang'i told to stop intimidating principals

Education CS, Dr Fred Matiang’i, PS Belio Kipsang during the announcement of 2016 KCSE exam results at Shimo Latewa High School, Mombasa. File/Photo

kirinyaga

Maragua Con-stituency De-velopment

Fund (CDF) has set up a special kitty to offer full secondary school scholarship to bright but needy students.

Local MP, Peter Kamande Mwangi (pictured) said the fa-cility was set up after

realizing that such stu-dents were failing to continue with second-ary education due to poverty.

He said such chil-dren, after passing Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) fail to join secondary schools they are admitted to, thus

missing opportunities to get to competitive insti-tutions. The scheme is currently paying fee for some 29 students.

Speaking while is-suing this term’s bur-sary cheques, Kamande urged the students to justify the kitty by ex-celling in their studies.

- Kage Njoroge

Maragua unveils special bursary scheme

Equity Bank Foundation has been asked to expand the Wings to Fly pro-

gramme to enable more bright but needy students benefit.

Kieni MP, Kanini Kega noted that there are many bright children from needy families

who would like to be enjoined in the programme but unfortu-nately, the bank only considers few numbers.

The legislator was speaking in Nyeri town recently when the bank’s branch considered only 26 students out of the 350 appli-

cations from Kieni, Nyeri Town and Tetu constituencies for the programme.

Kega also flagged off the students who were travelling to Kasarani in Nairobi for three-day- induction programme.

- Joseph Mukubwa

nyEriEquity urged to expand Wings to Fly progamme

Students from institutions of higher learning in Thika town and its environs have

launched a campaign to sensitize their colleagues on the importance of registering as voters.

Addressing the Press after a sensitization campaign of more than 450 students in an event held at Mount Kenya University (MKU), the students expressed their dissat-isfaction with the incumbent lead-ers in Thika which, according to them, have done nothing tangible in terms of development.

Mount Kenya University Stu-dent Association (MKUSA) Presi-dent, Charles Karondo said their only weapon to demand develop-ment is the vote and the leaders elected will be answerable in case they don’t deliver on their prom-ises. - James Wakahiu

Students launch voter registration drive kiambu

Charles Karondo, Mount Kenya University Student Association (MKUSA) President addressing the press. Photo/James Wakahiu

murang’a

A KCPE candidate of last year is yet to receive his results over a month af-

ter Education Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i released them.

The student, Raphael Njugu-na of Kigumo Primary School, Othaya Constituency, Index number 08237008021 only re-ceived results of two subjects;

Kiswahili and English despite sitting for all papers.

The school deputy head teacher, Rose Karanja lamented that despite the candidate sitting for exams, only results of two subjects, which she said showed E grade although he was a bright student.

- Joseph Mukubwa

nyEriKCPE candidate yet to get results

Over 84 pupils who joined sec-ondary schools in Kirinyaga West have benefited from a

Sh80 million bursary kitty, meant to help bright but poor learners get edu-cation. The fund was started in Feb-ruary 2015. According to Ndia MP Stephen Ngari since 2016, Sh17 mil-lion has been used to educate needy children from the Sub-County. He

said the first lot to benefit will finish school 2019, adding that the group is very promising with most attaining A and the lowest a B+.

"My main agenda is to see poor but needy learners join secondary schools since education is the only weapon to end poverty in many homes," Ngari said

- Jane Wangechi

84 needy students get bursaries

Stephen Ngari who is also the constituency’s Education Fund patron hands over Sh26,777 cheque to one of the students, Charles Gaita who has been admitted to Machakos Boys High School.

Schools in the county per-formed dismally in 2016 Kenya Certificate of Sec-

ondary Education (KCSE) ex-ams.

Analyzed results from the county’s 322 schools, which registered candidates indicate only a paltry 3,655 students scored C+ and above, the min-imum entry grade for univer-sity programmes.

Some 23,363 candidates sat for examination.

The data shows only one candidate from Mugoiri Girls National School scored A plain and another 206 learners from various schools garnered A- minus grade. 1,436 candi-dates scored E.

Officer in charge of Qual-ity Assurance and Standards, Ignatius Kariuki acknowl-edged that performance was dismal and should be reversed for the benefit of the children. - Daniel Njoroge

Director unhappy with KCSE exam results


21EDUCATION NEWS

By Erick Nyayiera

Kisumu Boys High School cel-ebrated last year’s Kenya Cer-tificate of Secondary Education

(KCSE) Examinations with conducting a prayer meeting and giving thanks to the Almighty God for the sterling perfor-mance.

The School posted a mean score of 8.0534 points, emerging the best Public Secondary School in Kisumu County. It was third after Chemelil Academy and Maseno School, which are Private and National Schools respectively.

Kisumu Boys High School managed to get 205 direct entry into public univer-sities which includes 24 A-, 41B+, 58 B, 44 B-, 38 C+, 24 C, 22 C-, 9 D+ and 2D.

While congratulating the 2016 candi-dates during the thanksgiving prayer held at the school hall, Senior Principal Bro. Dennis Abok Aloo said this success was a culmination of conceited effort by the teaching staff and the candidates’ deter-mination including the commitment and support staff.

He also acknowledged support of par-ents and guardians who have been piv-otal in ensuring that students had the best minds by according them all the necessary requirements before the examinations.

“The 2016 candidates brought us vic-tory and showed the world that at Kisumu Boys we believe in giving the best and quality services to our learners,” Abok said.

He appreciated the stern measures in-troduced by Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi to deal with examina-tion irregularities, saying the 2016 KSCE results were a true reflection of a student’s abilities.

Mrs Aloo said the 2016 KCSE ex-aminations were the most guarded ever, saying the School has always maintained a mean score of 8.00 even with huge en-rollments and the fact that the School is

Kisumu Boys emerges top in County

Kisumu Boys High School Deputy principal 1 addressing the parents and students during the thanksgiv-ing service at the school to cel-ebrate sterling performance in the 2016 KCSE exams.

had access to the actual papers before the sat for them.

“I can state that these results are a true reflection of the ability of our students given the kind of teaching we provided for them,” said Abok.

Kisumu Boys High School Board of Management Chairperson Engineer Aguda Olale while speaking during this prayer cer-emony, praised the 2016 KCSE candidates for the sterling performance noting that they

had put the school back on the charts.Engineer Olale stressed that the good

results were due to team work and dedi-cation by all teachers, students and non- teaching staff.

“The main focus at Kisumu Boys High School is on the learners. As a Board, the key objective is to help the school achieve its desired goals,” said Eng. Olale.

He assured parents and teachers that the Board will deal with corruption and any cases of mismanagement at the school to ensure students are morally upright.

Deputy Principal Richard Onyango congratulated the 2016 KCSE candidates for their hard work and discipline that produced the best results.

“We purpose to continue creating a child friendly school environment that allows every student to exploit his poten-tial,” said Onyango.

Kisumu Boys High School has a plan that cares for orphaned and vulnerable learners. This is especially those students who are from poor backgrounds.

“We buy school uniforms, personal effects and give pocket money to these learners. Interestingly, some of these un-derprivileged children do better than their colleagues from well off backgrounds,” said Abok.

situated in the middle of Kisumu town. “There was no use of mobile phones as

was the case previously in cases of exam leakages. Dr Matiang’i gave us time to man-age the students well before and during the exams period hence every strategy we put was followed and ultimately produced posi-tive results,” he said.

Abok said that in previous exams, there were shocking cases where some students

Principal Denis Abok making a speech during the thanksgiving prayer service to celebrate the good performance in the 2016 KCSE exams.

Board of Management chair Eng. Aguda Olale speaking to Education News at the school.

Kisumu Boys High School Principal Denis Abok at his office. Kisumu Boys beat all other public schools to emerge the best in the County.

Parents and students keenly follow the sermon during the thanksgiving prayer service held at the school to celebrate good performance of the school in the 2016 KCSE results.


Education nEws22

nyanzakisii

siaya

By Enock Okong’o

The County government has set aside Sh240 million this year to support needy chil-

dren from each ward in the region to continue with their education.

Deputy Governor, Joash Maangi said the allocation was a demonstration of the commitment to improve education and asked parents to co-operate with local financial institutions to boost edu-cation sector.

“We shall continue working in partnership with all education lovers to promote education in this county,” he said while addressing KCPE beneficiaries of Equity Bank ‘Wings To Fly’ Scholarships 2016.

The Deputy Governor who was flanked by the County Execu-tive Secretary for Education Mrs Sekuta Ocharo presided over the flagging off of 25 beneficiaries.

Equity Kisii branch Manager said the bank has since 2010 helped 160 students with full scholarships from Standard 8 to University.

Among these, 60 are in local universities while five are pursu-ing degree courses in international universities.

He said this year there were 605 applicants in the county but only 25 succeeded to get the schol-arship because of the stiff compe-tition. He told those who benefited

to make use of the opportunity by working hard to succeed.

The beneficiaries will join various secondary schools in the country as Equity Bank will ca-ter for their school fees, tuition, pocket money and other monetary needs for education.

Joy as Equity gives 25students 'Wings to Fly'

Deputy Governor Joash Maangi flagging off the 25 ben-eficiaries who were heading to Kasarani International Sports Centre for further orientation before joining Form One this year. Photo/Enock Okong’o.

Teachers and students in the county have been asked not to get discouraged by the

results posted by their respective schools in last year’s national ex-ams.

Kenya Secondary School

Heads Association (KESSHA) branch Chairman, Vincent Odhia-mbo (pictured) says as much as the results were low in a number of schools, teachers and students need not give up. He said there is need to put behind the fact that the results were not impressive, be positive and work hard to attain better re-sults this year.

Mr Odhiambo, who is also the Principal of Chianda Boys High School in Rarieda Sub-County, said they should now work hard with a positive mind for better results.

- Erick Nyayiera

Teachers, students told not to be discouraged

Over 150 students from West Mugirango Constituency who sat for Kenya Certifi-

cate of Primary (KCPE) examina-tions last year have benefited from the Vincent Mogaka Kemosi Bur-sary Foundation.

The students who are total or-phans, partial orphans and some who come from poor backgrounds could not hide their joy as Kemosi gave them cheques worth Sh2 million.

Addressing parents, guardians and the beneficiaries at Nyamaiya, Keera, Kebirigo, Nyagachi, Gesiaga and Nyamira town education zones, Kemosi said the Foundation would continue supporting the students un-til they complete their Form Four examinations.

- Ongondi Nyakundi

150 students get bursaries

nyamira

Five candidates who sat for 2016 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams are

yet to get their full results, hence, may be locked out of joining secondary schools of their choice.KNUT branch Executive Secretary, Caleb Opondi said the five from Nderima, St. Mary Wachara and Ab-wao Primary schools are yet to get their full results and are therefore not able to get a chance in any secondary school.

Mr Opondi said there is need for a serious auditing of both 2016 KCPE and KCSE results to establish why some candidates are yet to get their results, adding that the results are not accurate.

Abwao Primary School head teacher, Kennedy Ondiek said the school has written to the exam body about the missing mark of one of his 2016 candidates but they are yet to receive communication about his fate. - John Ochieng

migori5 KCPE candidates yet to receive full exam results

Education stakeholders in Nyan-za region now want the gov-ernment to re-introduce practi-

cal learning skills in primary schools to help the pupils who are not good in academics. County Assembly Mem-bers from the region said at a meet-ing in Kisumu they want subjects like Arts and craft, home science, music, design and Physical Education (P.E) among others retuned in the syllabus.

Led by Siaya County Assembly representative for persons with dis-ability, Margaret Adhiambo Okech, the leaders impressed upon Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i to consider returning arts education at primary school even as he struggles to reform the sector to cater for those who are not academically gifted. - Erick Nyayiera

kisumuGovt asked to

re-introduce Art and Design studies

kisii

Rongo Sub-County security committee plans to impose tough regulations on em-

ployment of watchmen in schools.Area OCPD, Kisaka Muganda

said the plan which involves vetting the watchmen before being hired by schools will ensure that the re-sources in the institutions and more so laptops are safe.

He said they will give schools guidelines when choosing for the best security officers that are to

guard the resources.Kisaka said they will not allow

schools to employ very old people to provide security simply because they can accept very low salaries as opposed to trained and active men and women.

He asserted that schools have expensive resources that must be guarded by competent security agents.

- John Ochieng

migori

Tough rules for hiring school guards mooted

Bondo MP Dr Gideon Ochanda has assured that feeding pro-gramme in primary schools

courtesy of Bondo Constituency De-velopment Fund (CDF) will continue as soon as Head teachers submit the new pupils’ population.

He said the feeding programme which was being rolled out in all 140 public primary schools in the constit-uency at a tune of Sh18 million has not kicked off this term since schools are still enrolling pupils to get the ex-act number to be feed.

The legislator stated that there is enough food that is ready to be dis-tributed to all public primary schools just like last year. - Erick Nyayiera

MP assures of feeding programme

in school

siaya

nyamira

kisii

St. Charles Lwanga Ichuni Girls Principal, Joyce Orioki (c) and her deputies; Lydiah Gachango (in red blouse) and Fe-listus Otieno together with Phoebe Kakenya (carried), the best student in the school and best girl in Kisii County and Gusii region. She attained A- of 79 points. Ichuni Girls led in Kisii County and took position two in Gusii region after Nyambaria Boys. Photo/Elijah Nyaanga

Leaders from the county have decried acute shortage of teachers in the area, particu-

larly in secondary schools.Led by Woman Representative,

Alice Chae, they urged Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to de-ploy more tutors to all public sec-ondary schools in the county which are understaffed.

Ms Chae, most of the county secondary schools are understaffed, an issue she said the commission should address with urgency.

Addressing members of the press in Nyamira town, Chae cited Nyambiri Secondary School which she said has only four TSC teachers hence the need for more teachers.

- Ongondi Nyakundi

Leaders decry shortage of teachers

Kisii School Principal, Casper Maina is receiving accolades from members of the public

for sponsoring a vulnerable student from Kisii South Sub-County who had no hope of joining Form One this year for lack of school fees.

The student, David Machuka, scored 369 in 2016 KCPE exams at Riamaoncha E.L.C.K Primary school. He was among the best pupils in the County.

His hope of becoming a pilot after post-secondary education and starting up a foundation to support children, who hail from impoverished backgrounds like his, was revived af-ter getting full sponsorship to study at

Kisii School courtesy of Mr Maina. - Elijah Nyaanga

Principal lauded for helping needy student

David Machuka, his mother and well-wishers after his shopping. Photo/Elijah Nyaanga


23EDUCATION NEWS

By Kephas Ayiecha

It was all joy and celebration at St.Teresa’s Girls Secondary School Bikeke when parents, guardians,

students and teachers learnt that the premiere institution in Trans Nzoia County had posted impressive results in the 2016 Kenya Certificate of Sec-ondary Education (KCSE) exams.

During the exams which were strictly monitored, the girls County School defied the odds to post even better results, managing a mean score of 7.2. It had 110 candidates out of which 72 scored above C+ to qualify for university entry.

Though the mean was a slight drop from 2015’s when a total of 64 girls managed 8.47, the school still per-formed better in certain subjects and maintained a record of sending many students to the university. The results were proof of a track record of achieve-ment since 2014 when the first group of candidates sat the KCSE exam post-ing a mean score of 8.1787 followed

St. Teresa’s Girls School Bikeke excels again in KCSE

Outgoing St. Teresa’s Bikeke Girls Principal, Mrs Susan Murumba

at her office

Outgoing St. Teresa’s Bikeke Girls Principal, Mrs Susan Murumba with students.

Outgoing St. Teresa’s Bikeke girls principal Mrs Susan Murumba with a student who composed the school’s anthem.

ship has also encouraged students to ap-preciate the efforts of teachers and parents by being united and ensuring they excel.

“The students own the school through a strong student leadership that repre-sents their colleagues uniformly and well, and as a result teachers do not encounter friction with the students as indiscipline cases are minimal,” she noted.

“We do not find difficulties in deal-ing with indiscipline cases as most of our students have maintained good rapport with the teachers,” she says, adding that this has enabled teachers to spend most of their time in teaching and ensuring stu-dents are attended well to succeed.

With a student population of 700, the Boarding and Day school has 17 Board of Management (BOM) teachers and nine teachers employed by the Teachers Ser-vice Commission (TSC).

Mrs. Murumba says that despite the shortage of teachers, team work among them has enabled the school to perform even better.

She says three years since the school was started, many parents have expressed confidence in the academic track record and the school is faced with high de-mands.

“Our infrastructures are already over-stretched,” she adds.

Occasionally, the staff members par-ticipate in sports competitions with other schools such as St. Bridgits Girls and West Pokot County staff among other schools. Mrs. Murumba says during football com-petitions she herself joins the team as the goal keeper.

Apart from encouraging unity among the schools, the principal says the sporting activities serve as a motivation to teach-ers and out of class activity that energises them to work harder.

She says students are also empowered through benchmarking and trips.

Through these, students acquire con-fidence that they can still pass in exams as their counterparts, since they realise

Christian Religious Education (CRE) with a mean of 10.78, Physics 9.42 and Biology 8.48.

The school’s Principal, Mrs. Su-san Murumba attributed the impressive achievement to discipline, teacher-stu-dent interaction and support from the lo-cal community.

“The community is supportive and does not allow any interference in the

that whatever their colleagues in other schools learn, is not much different from what they learn in their school.

Some of the schools they frequent for benchmarking include Bahati Girls National School in Nakuru County and St. Mary’s Lwak Girls School- a former school of the Principal.

The activities are aimed at enhanc-ing education of the girl-child, she says adding, “ our main concern is to bring out a holistic girl.”

She points out that already parents have reciprocated by giving seasonal reports of their children’s behaviour at home when on holidays.

The school celebrate Valentine’s

by a mean of 8.4742 in 2015The school can still brag of the

ability to score highly in History and Government which had a mean of 11.3 and rated the best subject. Others were,

school by anybody. It is one of the best girls’ school that enrols children from within the area and offers best education them,” she added.

The good school-community relation-

Day through a show of various talents ending up with Miss Bikeke Girls.

According to the Principal many parents have appreciated the behav-iours of their daughters as brought up in the school and that is why they have continuously embraced the aca-demic discipline that the school offers to them. Standing on a 5 acre piece of land, St. Teresa's Girls High School has four dormitories, and a currently a storey building under construction that will supplement the Boarding section to accommodate another 100 students for it to be fully boarding.

The school enjoys good water sup-ply system that is facilitated by Trans Nzoia County Governor Patrick Khae-mba.

The school’s slogan is: ‘Smart Work Begets Success’ and is guided by a school anthem ‘In Excellence We Grow, With Focus Determination and Unity’.

The slogan was formulated by So-phie Namaemba one of the students.

Now the school targets a mean score of 9 in this year’s Kenya Certifi-cate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination which the principal says is achievable.Students of St. Teresa’s Bikeke Girls on a parade at the school.


Education nEws24

EastErnEmbu

By Kamundia Muriithi

Lady luck came smiling for a bright girl with physical disability from Makima who excelled in 2016

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams, after a well-wisher spon-sored her secondary education.

Despite her mobility challenges as she cannot walk, Sharon Nzivo, 14 worked hard and scored 391 marks triggering cel-ebrations at Mburutani Primary School and in her village.

The excitement was, however, short-lived as her mother who is single and has two other children could not Afford the high fee needed at Muthale Girls’ High School where she had secured place.

Sharon has, however, bagged full schol-

arship for her secondary education from KCB Bank. She is among seven bright pu-pils from poor backgrounds who benefited from the bank’s sponsorship in the county.

Apart from a cheque for Sh53,564 to pay the school fee, the bank also gave Sh25,000 to each beneficiary to cater for personal emoluments, transport and pocket money.

Embu Education Executive, Dr Jam-leck Muturi promised to personally take over and try to get Sharon a National school in Embu and save her trouble of travelling all the way to Muthale Girls which is far from her home.

Embu KCB Branch Manager, Charles Mukunya expressed concern that few boys had shown interest in applying for the sponsorship.

Girl with physical disability gets scholarship

Sharon Muthikwa Nzivo receives school fees cheque for Sh53,564 from Embu KCB Branch Manager, Charles Mukunya (left) and Embu Education Executive, Dr Jamleck Muturi. On the right is her mother Patricia Ndanu.Photo/Kamundia Muriithi

Two pupils of Kasina Primary in Mwingi town who scored 354 and 334 marks in 2016 KCPE are ask-

ing for good Samaritans to help them join their dream schools since their parents are poor and cannot raise fees.

Alfred Kimanzi whose father died dur-ing the 2014 Mpeketoni clashes scored 354 marks and has been called to join St Charles Lwanga School. “I hope some-body will help me fulfill my dreams of be-ing an Aircraft Engineer," he said.

Mary Kyalo who scored 334 and se-lected to join St Angelas Girls Secondary School, said her dad died in 2005 and the mother Nduku Mueni is currently jobless. Her exam fee was even paid by teachers.

- Lydia Ngoolo

Help us join Form One,

students plead

Kitui

Matungulu Girls High School is still grappling with

challenges that pose serious threat to excellent academic performance despite its many years of existence.

The respected institution first opened its doors to local students just few years after independence.

While addressing hun-dreds of parents and well-wishers who had turned up for its Golden Jubilee Anni-versary celebrations, Princi-pal Peninah Mutiso painted a picture of an institution still standing tall academically, de-spite several underlying chal-lenges.

“So far so good. We have

tried our best to make do with the available resources and infrastructure, and I am proud to report that Matungulu Girls remains the Sub-County’s pinnacle of academic excel-lence and also among the top institutions in the entire county,” she said. Among the

school’s most pressing needs, Ms Mutiso said is inadequate teaching staff, limited staff housing, congestion in class-rooms and dormitories and old buildings.’

“The school also suffers poor internet connectivity

and inadequate ICT Infra-structure, which is neces-sary for modern learning and knowledge transfer,” she added.

Mutiso said the school had embarked on a process of rebranding with a view to transforming into a model learning centre that will ulti-mately place the girls on the global map.

- Makoma Musyoka

Matungulu Girls grapples with poor infrastructure,staffing

macHaKos

Peninah Mutiso, Matungulu Girls Principal

Two girls brought up in a local chil-dren’s home and excelled in last year’s KCPE exams were overjoyed

after bagging sponsorships from a local bank that would fully cater for their secondary school education.

Alice Ngonyo who was the second best pupil in the county with 423 marks and Elly Mwende, 406 marks are among the 13 beneficiaries Equity Bank’s ‘Wings to Fly’ Scholarships in the county.

Embu Education Executive, Dr Jam-leck Muturi and Embu Equity Bank Branch Manager, George Maina flagged off the ben-eficiaries for a mentorship programme in Nairobi recently.

Maina said apart from paying school fees, the bank would also provide pocket money and money for transport and shop-ping to the beneficiaries.

- Kamundia Muriithi

Top KCPE destitute girls get Equity’s ‘Wings to Fly’

Embu

mEru maKuEni

Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana (left)with Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior during mass voter registration launch in the County. The leaders urged students with IDs to turn out and register as voters. Photo/Japheth Kimuyu

Thirteen-year-old Pascal Kimeu's (pic-

tured) hopes of join-ing secondary school are fading with each passing day.

Kimeu who scored 381 marks in last year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations was admit-ted to Moi High School, but is still out of school due to lack of fees as his parents cannot afford the Sh53,554 the school is charging.

''I am appealing to well-wishers to help me to join secondary school and realise my dream of becoming a doctor,'' Pascal, a for-mer pupil at Mbilini Primary School in Kan-gundo Sub-County said in Tala Town. His father Joshua Muli only relies on casual work to feed the family.

- Makoma Musyoka

Bright, poor boy plead for help to join Form One

macHaKos

Teachers from Kathigiri Board-ing Primary School, one of the top performing primary schools

in the country, have said teacher-learner contact time is very crucial in determining the performance of pupils in final exams.

Having positive attitude and showing love to the young ones while in school, listening to them and spend-ing time with them also contribute to excellent performance in exams.

Other factors also contributing to good results by primary school pu-pils according to the teachers include teaching and then following to see what you’ve taught has been put into practice by your pupils.

“Teacher-learner contact time is extremely important especially when more time is spent with pupils to make them understand what you teach them,” David Mwenda, a Standard Eight English teacher at the school said on behalf of other teachers while talking to Education News recently at the school.

Showing love to those children

and listening to them keenly helps you as a teacher to understand their areas of weaknesses in what you teach them and capitalize in making sure you’ve dealt with the areas of weaknesses ap-propriately,” he said.

The English teacher further said befriending slow learners as opposed to scorning and neglecting them to deal with quick learners only, helps a lot to make the slow learners catch up with the rest which boosts the perfor-mance of your class.

- Titus Murithi

Teachers offer crucial tips for passing exams

A section of Kathigiri Boarding Primary School teachers. Second left is school Head teacher Micheni Ragwa. Photo/Titus Murithi


Education nEws

By Titus Murithi

One school in the entire Nyambene region in Meru County which has

proved to be an academic giant to reckon with is Njia Boys second-ary school, found in the far flung dry and remote northern part of Igembe Central sub-county.

In the 2016 KCSE, according to the school principal Gitonga Imunya, his school, produced the best student in the entire Nyam-bene region, who had scored an A-(minus) of 77 points.

In total the school will be sending 66 students to the uni-versity as they’ve scored C+ (plus) and above during the 2016 KCSE, out of 174 who sat the fi-nal exams. Two students had A-(minus), followed by two more who had B+ (plus), seven had B (plain), eighteen had B-(minus) and thirty seven had C+ (plus).

The principal has attributed various factors to the sterling per-formance of the school, among them dedicated team work by the teaching staff, discipline and hard work by the students, cre-ation of conducive learning en-vironment for the students and finishing the syllabus in time so that they can have enough time for revision.

“Even though our school is in a remote rural setup, that can’t deter us from working very hard

Njia Boys: The rural school that is shining in Meru County

Njia Boys principal Gitonga Imunya within the school com-pound.

Njia Boys principal Gitonga Imunya (in suit and tie) with a section of his students within the school compound. The school had produced the best student in Nyambene region with an A- of 77 points

to catch up with the rest. Disci-pline by our students and hard work coupled with dedicated teamwork by our teachers has seen us improve tremendously academic wise to an extent of producing the best student in the entire Nyambene region during the 2016 KCSE.

When I took over here in 2013, I embarked on serious im-provement of learning environ-ment for our students like plant-ing of trees, landscaping of the school compound, paved paths, ensuring there was enough water for domestic use by our students and the entire school fraternity and improving on sporting ac-tivities. All these are endearing

to the boys which has made them have positive attitude towards their academic work,” said the principal.

The principal said that for them as the teaching staff to foster a lasting positive rela-tionship with the students, they have a ‘Let’s talk Day’ every term where students openly ex-press to teachers what might not be going down well with them while in school and which might pull them backwards in their school work, and all the issues they bring forward are addressed forthwith.

Imunya further said that their student who’d scored A-(minus) has made the school proud and

great as already he’s been taken by Equity bank to work for them before joining the university whereby the bank will pay for his university fee.

The principal said one major challenge his school has was a serious understaffing as they’d only 19 TSC teachers while the BOM has employed 11 more. He regretted most of the school’s financial resources go into pay-ing the teachers employed by the BOM and called upon TSC to post more teachers to his school.

Mr. Imunya noted that de-spite his school being a county school which has seen them pick students with low marks at times as low as 260 while on the high-

er is 340 after the extra county schools have picked the best, that one has never been a bother to them as they do their best to academically nurture their low grade students to catch up and equal their high grade counter-parts who went to extra county and national schools.

Since Mr. Imunya took over in Njia Boys in 2013, the school has had impressive academic performance. In 2013, they’d 27 students joining the university, while 60 followed them in 2014. A slight drop occurred in 2015 with 47 going to the university while in 2016 a real leap forward has been witnessed with 66 stu-dents going to the university.

By Ndichu Kamau

Kerugoya Boys has continued to post impressive results which have made it to be ranked

among the best schools in Kirinyaga County. In The 2016 KCSE, the school had an entry of 163 candidates and at-tained a mean of 7.2209.

This translated to a pass of 65.64 per cent. George Murimi was the best stu-dent with a Mean grade of A minus of 77 points. Melvin Kamau was second with an A minus of 75 points. Njuguna Austine and Wanga Boniface also got

Kerugoya Boys posts impressive KCSE results in County

John Kanyoro, Deputy Principal

Banana farm where the school sources bananas for consumption by students.

From left, Dean of studies Dun-can Ndonga, Principal, Lawrence Muthee with 2015 KCSE best stu-dents during the Awards Giving Day in the school.

Administration block

ENTRY 163A - 0A MINUS - 4B PLUS - 15B PLAIN - 28B MINUS - 28C PLUS - 31C PLAIN - 24C MINUS - 18D PLUS - 11D PLAIN - 4D MINUS - 0E - 0X - 0Y - 0MEAN GRADE 7.2209

2016 KSCE RESULTS

an A minus of 74 points. History and Mathematics were the best performed subjects with each attaining 95 and 16 A plain respectively.

In 2017, the school aims at attain-ing a mean of 9.47. This, they believe will be achievable owing to its vision of being the powerhouse of exemplary ac-ademic achievement and character de-velopment. The school is also guided by

their mission: “To provide and sustain an enabling environment for holistic quality education for the students to realize their potential”.

Through extensive revision, team work and collaboration the school aims at extending its footprint in Kirinyaga County and beyond. In its e-learning plat-form, students can download past papers for revision purposes.

The school has initiated development projects which supplements and reduces dependency on supplies from outside. Currently, the school undertakes dairy farming, pig keeping and crop farming.

They also operate a bakery and a biogas plant. The bakery, which produces bread and cakes, was envisioned in the School Strategic Plan of 2011 to 2018. The farm produces bananas, kales and cabbages for consumption by students.

Kerugoya Boys is also vibrant in games and clubs where students are com-petitively engaged within and beyond the county.

january 27 - fEbruary 10, 2017 25

Education nEws26

Burieruri High champions wellbeing of boy-child

Burieruri High School Principal, Mr. Misheck Mutuma (right) with one of the teachers in front of the new administration block.

Burieruri Principal, Misheck Mutuma (seated 3rd) with area MP, Kubai Kiringo and his wife with 15 sponsored students who’ll join Form One in Burieruri. They’re spon-sored by Igembe Central Education Trust Fund.

By Titus Murithi

Apart from being a cen-ter of academic excel-lence, Burieruri Boys

High School has been resolutely concerning itself with rescue of neglected boy-child within the community in the entire Igembe region for the last 15 years.

The only other institution in Kenya which can be credited to what Burieruri has been do-ing since 2002, is Starehe Boys Center in Nairobi, which started rescuing street boys since its in-ception in 1959 and later, turned out to be one of the greatest

academic center of excellence in Kenya.

Similarly, Burieruri a premier academic center of note in Meru in particular and Kenya at large, has taken up the cudgels for the des-titute boy-child from poor back-grounds by giving them bursaries using funds gotten from school income-generating projects.

Talking exclusively to Educa-tion News in his office, the school Principal, Misheck Mutuma said the boy-child is under threat be-cause boys are so much sought af-ter to provide labour majorly due to age old traditions.

He said his school as an insti-tution which serves as a vehicle to bring development in the commu-nity has been conducting outreach initiatives in the community to

sensitize locals on the importance of educating boys as opposed to engaging them to provide labor in-stead of being in school.

“Age old traditions are also impacting negatively on the boy-child. We visit primary schools, churches, education forums, and county functions during the out-reaches to plead for the boy child’s case,” said the Principal.

The Principal further said the school has initiated an associa-tion of the Old Boys whose patron is the area MP, Kubai Kiringo who has chipped in, in a big way through Igembe Central Educa-tion Trust Fund, and is currently sponsoring over 15 boys from very needy backgrounds.

Recently, the Principal re-ceived another 15 more boys from very needy backgrounds spon-sored by the same Trust Fund to join Form One class. He said that he invites motivational speakers to talk to the boys at least three times per term as well as the Board of Management once a term. He commended his staff especially the teachers whom, he said, are always in the forefront identifying needy cases during the community outreach initiatives.

Just like Starehe Boys Center has produced notable figures in Kenya among them Raphael Tuju (former Minister for Foreign Af-fairs), Paul Ereng (former Olympic gold medalist) Peter Kenneth (for-mer Assistant Minister) Burieruri

equally has produced a number of senior figures in the Kenyan Government including the cur-rent Member of Parliament for Igembe Central, Cyprian Kubai Kiringo, Miriti Irimba, a Major in Kenya Airforce and Defense Principal Secretary, Ambas-sador Kirimi Kaberia, among other top National Government officials.

Meru County Government is also a beneficiary of Buri-eruri as three of its top govern-ment officers among others are alumni of the school.

James Mutia, the Chief of Staff in Meru County Govern-ment as well as the CEC for roads in the County Govern-ment Engineer Newton Baariu Itobi and the Meru County Investment and Development Corporation

(MCIDC) Managing Di-rector, Joel Kinyua Imitira, all went to Burieruri for their sec-ondary school education.

Dave Ntawa alias Blackii, the chairman of the Kenya Miraa Farmers and Traders Association as well as Titus Murithi Kinoti, the reporter of Education News in Meru, were among the pioneer 8-4-4 stu-dents who studied in Burieruri. Blackii and Kinoti slept at Ka-mairi dorm when they were in Burieruri.

By Godfrey Wamalwa

Discipline, teamwork, complet-ing the syllabus early and cre-ating sufficient time for revi-

sion, were among the top reasons that St Luke’s Kimilili Boys High School Principal Patrick Wandili cited for the school’s sterling performance.

Other reasons included character formation, involving teachers and par-ents in student welfare, a strong religious foundation and prayer.

With a mean score of 6.922 in 2016 KCSE exam results, St Luke’s Kimilili Boys has been building on the success so far achieved and improving in areas of weaknesses to achieve the top posi-tion in the country which has for many years remained a preserve of a few com-peting at the top in the public schools category.

According to Mr Wandili hard work is the secret to school success, adding: “One has to obey hard work. However, obedient to hard work is blind at times and requires the suspension of reason for

Sheer hard work keeps St Luke’s Kimilili at the top

St.Luke’s Kimilili Boys High School Principal, Patrick Wandili displaying some of the trophies the school won in various sports disciplines

one to succeed.”He said there are other schools still stuck

in a rut with old ways of doing things and endless rhetoric. But for St Luke’s Kimilili Boys High school, things are totally differ-

B+ 19, B 45, B- 66, C+ 73, C 69, C- 50, D+ 20, D 10. Despite the huge population the school managed a 78 per cent pass with a mean grade of 6.9, the Principal saying they are also looking forward to improving on the results in next year’s results.

The school was position four with the largest number of students who acquired di-rect entry to Public universities. “Our school has been on the upward trend for a couple of years,” said Wandili.

“This is a very hot seat and also excit-ing, but very demanding, bearing in mind that we must produce better results every year.” he revealed.

Asked about his vision while still the school principal, Wandili said he intended the school to produce brilliant, disciplined and God-fearing students.

“The culture of excelling every year pushes the next class to do even better be-cause no one wants to be a let-down and that

makes management easy,” he pointed out.Wandili has an inspirational story.

When he took over the school in 2007, mo-rale of teachers and pupils had dropped to an all-time low with a poor academic record since the school’s structural facilities had won out and with few toilets on the school compound had sunk.

With an equivocal co-operation from parents and the community, Mr Wandili re-fused to sit pretty and watch as the ghost of poverty presided over the pursuit for success at St Luke’s Kimilili Boys High school.

Despite the hardship at the school, what strikes you most is the Principal’s abil-ity to jealously guard the pride of the place. Any casual observer would notice without doubt that the academic wheel has come full circle.

Mr Wandili avers that there’s need for expansion and improving its infrastructure. The school today combines impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching with its proud heritage of service and achievement.

The principal also disclosed that teach-ers are always in the compound day and night and students always engage in co-curriculum activities. They also have family days organised by guiding and Counseling masters.

With a supportive board of manage-ment, Parents Teachers Association and a principal who is always in school, Wandili said the school expects excellent results.

The school now targets a mean score of 8 in this year’s KCSE exams. The school’s strength is in languages, sciences and mathematics.

“We understand that discipline is the cornerstone to any success. I am happy to say there has been improved discipline in this school and no doubt, students at St Luke’s Kimilili are beginning to reap its fruits,” he explained.

The school encourages and rewards self-discipline whereby students work without much supervision.

“Doing the right thing at the right time, and at the right place, sums up self-discipline. It is this self-discipline that has enabled our school to shine academically and in co-curricular activities,” Wandili said. The school is East Africa secondary schools handball champions and has won national titles for eight years.

Fellow students guide and counsel those who may not toe the line. This is done through student leaders who form a hierarchy that ensures free-flow of com-munication between the administration and learners.

“Discipline therefore is everybody’s responsibility, with each student being his brother’s keeper. My office, however, invites parents and guardians to sort out cases of indiscipline that may impede academic performance,” added the prin-cipal.


St. Lukes Kimilili boys high school Principal Patrick Wandili with students

ent, he explained.Wandili says his staff has

equally burnt mid night oil in preparing the candidates located at the heart of Kimilili town ex-cel at the top. He said his teach-ers have changed tact and ad-opted new strategies in teaching methods since students differ in basic understanding of subjects.

In an academic year that was marked with many chal-lenges such as student unrests the school beat all the odds to produce 210 students with direct entry to public universities.

The school recorded A- 7, St Luke’s Kimilili Boys gate

Education nEws 27january 27 - fEbruary 10, 2017

By Shichangi Richard

Located 4 kilometer off Webuye Eldoret highway, Archbishop Njenga Girls High School has

demonstrated its academic prowess once again by emerging the top school in last year’s KCSE examination in Lugari Sub County and tenth position in the expensive Kakamega County ranking.

The school which has been ex-periencing gradual upward growth in academic since the current Principal, Mrs Esther Amukwachi come in, in 205 has also captured the limelight in the sporting activities especially soc-cer where they have been legend both at national and international stage.

The Deputy Principal, Mrs Flukenzia Obanda Mr John Matekwa BOM

Chairman.Principal,

Esther Amukwachi.

The ongoing construction of ICT Centre

The Bakery Plant

The Director of Studies, Mr Ndalila.

According to the Principal, the school had humble physical facili-ties when she come in and she had to work towards their improvement and in the process, she put up two floor hostels of 246 capacity beds to help accommodate the ever growing population. She also constructed two storey complex estimated at Shs32 million which upon completion will house eight classroom, 400 capac-ity library and ICT center which she observed that its 85% done and the ground floor is already in use.

The head hinted that she had to work on the school beatification by planting flowers along the walkway which she also concreted to enhance cleanness among the girls during the rain season. Beside that, the head also renovated the laboratory. She, howev-er, said that the school needs modern science labs that are equipped with facilities to enables girls appreciate Science subject and also meet the de-mand of the population that stands at more than 945 . She observed that they have registered the seventh stream which also calls for more classrooms for effective learning.

The Principal reiterated that they have shortage of teachers with CBE of 50 they only have 30 TSC teach-ers, hence the short fall of 20 and appealed to the Commission to hire more teachers to lessen the burden of the school hiring teachers on board at expense of other facilities. She said that in the process to generate some income to the school, she is putting Renovated lab.

The school core values.

The Principal, in Blue T Shirt with school football team.

Archbishop Njenga Girls: The powerhouse in sports, academics

up bakery plant which will bake breads, scones for internal consumption and for sale

The Head, however, lauded the mu-tual relationship which between the Management Board led by the chair-man, Mr John Matekwa and his PTA counterpart, Mr Wycliffe Luvai whom she described as being handy to the school at all the time to ensure that the school is steered in the right way to achieve its laid down core values

The school under the sponsorship of Catholic Church was established in the early seventies with Mr Daniel Rengo as its first head within the primary com-pound. It has grown gradually in both infrastructure and academic to attain its

current status of extra County School with amble learning atmosphere

The Deputy Principal, Mrs Flugen-zia Obanda noted that the school disci-pline is excellent and lauded the input of the church towards assisting in shap-ing the spiritual aspect of the girls, say-ing that this blended well with high dis-cipline and academic performance. The school is producing the holistic learner that is ready to serve the country in any capacity.

He observed that when the ICT De-partment is fully established, they will take the students through computer skills. The school managed to record improved score for the last three year getting 7.9 in 2013 then 8.7 in 2014 then tropped slightly to 8.4 in 2015 and they scored the mean of 6.8 last year with 4 A minus, 13 B plus, 26 B plain, 30 B minus, 46 C plus, 53 C plain, 33 C minus, 15 D plus and 3 D plain with 122 out of 220 getting direct entry to

the university, translating to more than 70% pass.Ms lynne Ligaye noted that it was the year 2011 when the school recorded its maiden A plain with Ms Ju-dith Shiraka getting the the grade with 81 points since then the school has been posting the most coveted grades in the exam.

The Game Master, Mr Maruti Wanyonyi disclosed that the school has been a powerhouse in sports at national and international level especially in soc-cer where they have scooped trophies. He said that they since 1999 and they were ranked best nationally in 2008 they became champions nationally in Nyeri and went a head to scooped regional tro-phy in Rwanda in 2011. They scooped the Golden Trophy in Mbarara Uganda in the same year. The school was named the best during Soya Championship and carried home the trophy. Mr Wanyonyi, however, called on the area MP, Ayubu

Savula to support the team by paying school fees for the players the way former MP, Cyrus Jirongo used to do for consistence in good results.

28 EDUCATION NEWS

western

By Andanje Wakhungu

Teachers in Kakamega North have been urged to take academic matters

seriously if they have to reg-ister good grades in national exams.

Sub-County Director of Ed-ucation, Ms Anne Shiundu also cautioned principals against engaging in politics, business and money minting activities at the expense of education.

The director who was not amused by the 2016 Ke-nya Certificate of Secondary

Education (KCSE) results warned that stern action will be taken against principals who have failed to take edu-cation matters seriously lead-ing to continued poor perfor-mance in the region.

“I’m very much disap-pointed by these results and I’m yet to meet the Princi-pals of the schools that have been posting good grades and higher mean scores to tell me what happened, this is a clear indication that they were not genuinely teaching,” she said.

Shiundu said they had ear-lier agreed on the best way that would see them deliver good grades and improve the Sub- County mean but it is as if the Principals did not take them seriously.

“It will be upon them to take sole responsibility of the poor performance when we meet,” she added.

Shiundu, however, lauded primary school head teach-ers for good results in 2016 Kenya Certificate of Prima-ry Education with a district mean of 254.91.

kAkAmEgA

Director warns schools over poor performance

kAkAmEgA

Mary Manyonge, the school Principal.

Matunda Salvation Army Mixed Day Secondary School in

Likuyani Sub-County students and teachers continued to cel-ebrate following its sterling performance in 2016 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Edu-cation (KCSE).

The Principal, Mary Manyonge said the school managed to scoop position one in the Sub-County beating aca-demic giants.

She said the school main-tained a mean grade of 6.4, same as the previous year, add-ing that for years the school has been posting good results and it was not affected by new regulations put in place by the Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i.

She said top six students managed an A- with 79, 77, 76, 76, 75, and 74 points respec-tively.

- Malachi Motano

School celebrates good KCSE results

Several primary schools in the county have benefited from a project seeking to

see that learners improve early grade mathematics competency and strengthen management systems at national schools level.

A total of 12 schools with 36 participants convened for the seminar for those schools with mean score of below 250 for the last three years under the auspices of Primary Edu-cation Development Project (PRIEDE).

The project under the su-pervision of World Bank and

undertaken by Minis-try of Edu-cation is e x p e c t e d to assist the country in address-ing the key challenges a f f e c t i n g early grade

primary school education.Ms Beatrice Otichilo (pic-

tured), Curriculum Support Officer in Vihiga Sub-County while addressing the partici-pants talked about how good

mean score could be achieved in schools at a given stage and how to improve on it.

She said that targets in schools should be set in first term and implemented through regular follow ups, adding that lesson plan and scheme of work should be monitored by head teachers in order to know how and what the teacher is going to teach children in class.

"A good teacher should en-sure the school is organized and teachers report on duty early enough so that lessons are covered accordingly," said Otichilo. - Leonard Angatia

Schools benefit from PRIEDE projectvIhIgA

St. Catherine’s Girls Board-ing Primary School-Nan-gina, held a celebration to

honour pupils who performed well in 2016 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations recently.

The ceremony held at the school, in Samia Sub-County, was started with Thanksgiving Mass whose celebrant was Nan-gina Parish Priest, Fr. Fredrick Ojilong.

It brought together pupils, teachers, friends of the school and a few parents who con-verged to thank the pupils for their good work and to wish them well in life.

The school, whose perfor-

mance has been impressive for many years, was the best public schools in the county. It regis-tered a total of 51 pupils with the leading girl, Joy Njambi Juma, scoring 407 marks. She has long joined Limuru Girls High School.

The Head teacher, Sister Anne Onyanja attributed the continued good performance to team work, support from the local community and the spon-sor, high standard of discipline, hard work and trust in God.

She promises to do even better this year to ensure that their track record of good per-formance is maintained.

- Okoth Peter

bUSIA

St. Catherine’s Nangina honours its heroines

Like other counties where academic giants fell when the last year’s Ke-

nya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results were released, Busia schools which had wallowed in the glory of scoring several As, were not spared.

The leading pupils in the entire county, Purity Adhiambo from Lwanya Girls Second-ary School, Busia Sub-County and Okiya Martin from Mod-ing Secondary School, Teso North Sub-County had A- of 77 points.

In third, fourth and fifth po-sition were Juma Pravison from Nambale Boys; Josphat Ouma Wandera from Nambale Urban, both in Nambale Sub-County and Nundu Oduori Antony from Butula Boys High School, Butula Sub-County, scored A- of 76 points each.

- Okoth Peter

Schools struggle to come to terms with the results

bUSIA

Chavakali Friends High School class of 318 can-didates failed to perform

as expected registering a mean score of 6.001. The 2016 class posted 5 A- 19 B+ 20 B plain aggregating to 120 students joining public universities.

In 2015 the school registered a mean score of 77.005 with 21 A plain as opposed to media reporting that the school had 300 As. In 2014 KCSE results

were cancelled hence negative connotation that the school is a cheating hub.

According to the Principal, Indimuli Kahi Alfred every-body was surprised that Cha-vakali did not produce an A in the 2016 KCSE results. Only 141 As were recorded across the country indicating an over-all dismal performance.

- Leonard Angatia

Shock as Chavakali goes without single A

vIhIgA

bUNgOmA

The County Education Min-ister, Beryl Mutekhele has raised concern over declining

academic standards in the region and called for concerted efforts geared towards improving the quality.

Ms Mutekhele who is also in charge of Youth and Sports pointed at the County’s performance in this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams where it ranked 25 out of 47, in terms of mean score.

She urged teachers, parents and students to work closely together to reverse the appalling trend.

Mutekhele spoke during an An-

nual General Meeting and Fundrais-ing drive at Kabuchai Girls Second-ary School in Kabuchai Sub-County where she had represented Governor Ken Lusaka recently.

Kabuchai Girls Principal, Jane Simiyu appreciated the help given to the school by the County Gov-ernment, in terms of bursaries, and asked the minister to remind the governor to heed his promise to pur-chase a bus for the institution.

She also called for more supports to complete a computer laboratory and, library under construction.

- Alfred Abuga

Poor academic standard irks minister

Joy Njambi Juma, the leading pupil shares the glory of being at the top during celebrations at the school. Photo/Peter Okoth


29EDUCATION NEWS

COAST

The County government has employed 315 Ear-ly Childhood Devel-

opment Education (ECDE) teacherson permanent and pensionable terms.

The teachers who had been serving on casual basis received letters confirming their new status from Gover-nor John Mruttu in Voi town.

“We are happy to be in the county’s payroll, the dream has come true. It is a mile-stone for socio–economic development in the County,” said one of the teachers.

Voi Sub-County Educa-tion Officer, Anjela Kimanga said teachers have been over-looked before and this will

help improve the learning. Mruttu announced that a

total of 700 teachers would be employed in the next fi-nancial year. - Our Reporter

County hires 315 nursery school teachers

Talea holds graduation ceremonies

Principal, Mchombo,left joins the college choir,during the college's graduation ceremony held at the college compound in Malindi recently.

Parents in Malindi Sub-County have been told to take all their children to

school regardless of gender.Speaking during a public

meeting at Malanga Village recently, Malanga Assistant Chief, Nzaro Kajimbi warned that parents who will refuse to take their children to school this year will be arrested and charged.

He said the country's devel-opment needed educated people who would effectively imple-ment development projects.

Kajimbi also noted that lax-ity among parents to monitor the movement of their daugh-ters has led to cases of early pregnancies and marriages.

He warned parents against allowing school-going daugh-ters to attend night discos dur-ing the long December holidays and New Year festivities.

- Tsozungu Kombe

Parents face arrest for not sending children to school

TAITA TAvETA

kIlIfI

kIlIfI

Education stakeholders in the county have been urged to help put up

modern infrastructure in local schools.

Teachers Service Com-mission (TSC) County Direc-tor Yusufu Abdillahi said this will enable pupils and students learn under conducive environ-ments.

Many schools in the region, he added, lack essential learn-ing facilities, thus forcing pu-pils and students to learn under

poor environment.Abdillahi also said several

schools in Lamu West Sub-County have poor learning environment and more particu-larly in Witu division where pupils still sit on logs, stones and dusty floors while in class-rooms.

He attributed poor perfor-mance in national examinations of schools in the county to lack of essential learning facilities.

- Tsozungu Kombe

TSC calls for upgrade of school facilities

lAmU

Parents in the county have been urged to take their children who completed

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education ( KCPE ) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Edu-cation ( KCSE ) to Youth Poly-technics.

Speaking to Education News in Mombasa town recently, County Director of Youth Poly-technics (Vocational Training), Mwangi Gichuhi advised par-ents to encourage their children to join Youth Polytechnics to get various skills to enable them se-cure employment opportunities in future.

He, however, noted that many youth who completed KCPE and KCSE in the area some years ago are loitering in the streets of urban centres in the county, instead of joining polytechnics to get knowledge in different fields.

- Tsozungu Kombe

Parents urged to enroll children in Youth Polys

kWAlE

Governor John Mruttu issuing success cards at Mwakitaba Girls Secondary School a past event.

Nzaro Kajimbi

By Our Reporter

Over 1,000 pupils from Aga Khan Pri-mary School exer-

cised their democratic right to vote during the school’s leadership elections recent-ly.

The pupils conducted elections supervised by teachers, parents and with the help of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The Head teacher, Chris-topher Owino said the event

supervised by the electoral body - for the first time in the school’s history was an opportunity for the pupils to elect the preferred President and the Pupils Council.

“Today we are having the elections of the pupils’ lead-ers. The pupils are electing their own leaders (prefects). They are choosing the school President, Deputy President, Governors and Senators.

He added that the pupils had exhibited great talent as most of them researched in libraries, came up with man-

ifestos and brought out the best of themselves.

Mr Owino said at least 1,000 pupils from Standard Two to Eight from different streams took part in the elec-tions.

“Learning is not only in the classrooms, they have known what voting is all about. They do not look at the tribe, religion or colour,” added the head teacher.

He said this will help them understand what will be taking place during the August 8 General Election.

By Tsozungu Kombe

Talea Teachers Col-lege, situated at Kwa Chocha area

in Malindi town recently held two graduation cer-emonies where 160 stu-dents successfully com-pleted courses in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Primary Teacher Educa-tion (PTE).

Speaking during the college's 8th ECDE and

5th Primary Teacher Education (PTE) gradu-ation ceremony held at the college grounds, the Principal, Ms. Patience Mchombo, said the col-lege which has marked significant milestones offers four categories of courses. The courses are Diploma in ECDE, Certificate in ECDE, Primary Teacher course (P1) and proficiency in ECDE certificate.

She said apart from the twin graduation

ceremony, the college also celebrated its 10th Anniversary since it was established. The 8th ECDE and 5th PTE graduation ceremony saw graduands receive awards, among them 97 ECDE and 63 PTE (P1) students.

“This is the highest number of graduands since we opened the doors more than 10 years ago,” Board of Manage-ment (BOM) Chairman Francis Kalu said.

Pupils elect leaders under IEBC supervision

mOmbASA

mOmbASA

The government plans to recruit 59 teachers to re-duce shortage of teach-

ers in various schools in the county.

Teachers Service Commis-sion (TSC) Director, Geoffrey Chemos told Education News recently that the Commission will employ teachers in the region in phases to end under-staffing in schools.

He attributed the poor per-

formance in national examina-tions in the region to lack of teachers, saying employment of more tutors in the county would help to enhance effec-tive teaching and learning in schools.

"There is great need to employ additional number of teachers to replace those teach-ers who have died or retired in the county", the director add-ed. - Tsozungu Kombe

TSC discloses plan to recruit 59 teachers


30 EDUCATION NEWS jANUAry 27 - fEbrUAry 10, 2017

By Ndichu Kamau

83.48 per cent of the students who sat for the 2016 KCSE exams at Baricho boys at-

tained the minimum University en-try grade.

With an entry of 230 candidates, 192 of the candidates attained C Plus and above. The school at-tained an overall mean score of 8.465equivalent to a B Minus. His-tory, Christian Religious Education and Music were the best performed subjects with each attaining a mean grade of B Plus. Over the past ten years, Baricho has been making remarkable improvement both in subject and overall performance.

English, Kiswahili, Mathemat-

ics and Chemistry which all the can-didates sat attained a mean grade of C Plus, B Plain, B Plain and C Plus respectively. Music had the least entry with four candidates.Guided by the motto, ‘‘Higher we aim’’ the school aims to post even better re-sults in 2017.

The school is also guided by the vision of being a centre of excellence in the provision of high quality, af-fordable and holistic education.

Being a National school in the Kirinyaga County, Baricho Boys ad-mit students from all over the country which further enhances its diversity. Through this diversity, the school is able to participate in co curricular activities such as games, music and drama.

Over 80 per cent of Baricho Boys 2016 candidates attain University grades

The Principal Mr Wachira compare notes with Devolution Cabinet Secretary, Mwangi Kiunjuri during 2016 Prize Giving Day.

Executive students body 2016Football team.Journalism Club members.

By John Machio

The Ministry of Education in collabora-tion with Kenya Institute of Curricu-lum Development (KICD) and Teach-

ers Service Commission (TSC) have finalized plans to retrain over 300,000 teachers in the Public Service. This exercise has to be com-pleted before a reformed curriculum is rolled out,Education News has established.

It has also been revealed that a radical re-view of the Primary and Secondary Schools’ curriculum that will give the Government total control of content taught at educational institutions, will cost the state a whopping Sh 6 billion.

As part of the curriculum review process, KICD has recommended a raft of measures (changes) where Primary Teacher Education (PTE) training has been upgraded from Cer-tificate level to a minimum of Diploma.

KICD has also reviewed entry require-ments for Teacher Training Colleges to C+. This is intended to promote specialization in subjects. Internship and Teaching Practice (TP) have also been strengthened.

The Institute has further recommended the abolishing of Bachelor of Education Degree Programme. In its place, those wishing to take up teaching as a career will have to pursue a general degree first and train as a teacher at the Postgraduate level.

Also recommended is the inclusion of a component of action research to enhance the same in classroom practice, and student learn-ing at the school level.

According to the Director/Chief Executive of KICD, Dr. Julius Jwan capacity development of teachersfor Early Years of Education (Basic Education), in selected pilot schools, will run

between January and February 2017.Piloting of the Early Years Curriculum (Ba-

sic Education Curriculum) will be held between May and August 2017, while capacity develop-ment of teachers for Early Years Education will be held from September to December 2017. The reformed curriculum will then be rolled out in January 2018.

The KICD Director says development of designs for the reformed curriculum; pilot framework for the curriculum and curriculum support materials, have been finalized. “Devel-opment of training manual for teachers has also been finalized,” states Dr. Jwan.

The top KICD official said soon the Min-istry of Education will select pilot schools for Early Years Education and identify the num-

ber of teachers to be inducted for the pilot programme.

The Ministry has developed in-service Training modules and frameworks. This will be followed by selection and induc-tion of Master trainers from KICD, Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Ke-nya Education Man-agement Institute, Kenya Institute of Special Education, CEMASTEA and Kenya National Ex-amination Council,” says Jwan.

The implemen-tation matrix will in-volve schools cluster

training – Training of trainers for trainers – these will be teachers, County Staffing Officers and County Field Education Officers. The training will be conducted by Master trainers. There will also be school-based training of teachers which will be handled by Trainers of trainers.

According to the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, the review and implementation of the curricu-lum is estimated to cost the Government Sh 6 billion, warning that institutions that will not comply with the new curriculum will be closed down. It will be mandatory for all schools to present their syllabus to the KICD for approv-al. These include private academies and high cost international schools that have not had

their curriculum regulated. They will be shut down if they fail to comply.

PS Dr Kipsang has in the past warned local and foreign schools administering unapproved curriculum that they will be closed down. He said that what is taught to Kenyan children must be vetted and ap-proved by KICD.

“If there is any institution already offer-ing unapproved content, then should have been closed down like yesterday,” he said.

The PS said the Sh 6 billion budget will be financed by the Government with contri-butions from the private sector.

“This cost will be shared by the private sector because it will also involve develop-ment of curriculum materials among other things,” said Dr. Belio during a function at KICD in Ngara, Nairobi.

The Chairman of Kenya Teachers Col-leges Principal Association, James Wachan-ga said Heads of TTCs support the review of the curriculum, adding that Principals have been sensitized by KICD on the an-ticipated reforms in Teacher Education.

The chairman said the association par-ticipated in the development of Teacher Ed-ucation policy through the Ministry of Edu-cation Science and Technology, noting that the policy will provide a clear guideline.

“The new policy will put much em-phasis on competency based-curriculum as opposed to subject-based curriculum which has been in force for decades,” said Wachanga.

He challenged the ministry to extend the Digital Literacy Content Programme to private Teacher Training Colleges in Ke-nya.

300,000 teachers retrained for new syllabus

ICT Authority Director, Paul Rono (left, front row), Co-operative PS, Ali Ismael Noor and Kuresoi North MP, Moses Cheboi with pupils of Kipkewa Primary School display tablets given to them recently. Photo/John Njoroge

31EDUCATION NEWSjANUAry 27- fEbrUAry 10, 2017

By Our Reporter

Makueni Boys High School, one of the leading National schools in lower Eastern

region, had 190 out of 230 candi-dates who sat for the Kenya Certifi-cate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2016, qualifying to join public universities.

The school had 25 students scor-ing A- while another 48 scored a B+ and 45 managed a B plain. Those who had a B- were 31 while 41 had a C+ closing the number of those who scored above the university entry mean-grade of C+.

The school which recorded a mean-grade of 8.313 had 23 candi-dates with a C plain and another 12 with C-, most of whom will join mid-dle level diploma colleges.

The Principal, Mr. B.S Manoo attributed the good results to dedica-tion by teachers and hardwork by stu-dents on one hand, and support from the Board of Management and Par-ents Association on the other hand.

Manoo said the school has been on the fore-front of implementing educational reforms and policy direc-tives by the Ministry of Education in terms of examination management, and that his office fully supports re-forms by the Cabinet Secretary for Education which are aimed at cre-ating a level playing field when it comes to examination matters.

“With continued team work by teachers and hardwork by our stu-dents, we even hope to register better results this year and in years ahead,” Mr. Manoo told Education News.

Mr. Manoo further observed: “The staff offers a strong foundation for the school and they work hard towards achieving the goals of the school thus maintaining our premier status in the county and country.”

Mr. Manoo noted the school had embarked on an ambitious multi-sectoral process of implementing a series of major reforms aimed at im-proving the school's academic per-formance.

“This transformative reform agenda which is aimed at improv-

Makueni Boys High School posts impressive KCSE results

Principal Mr. B.S Manoo.

Students keenly listening to a guest speaker in the assembly hall.

The Principal awards a student, Joseph Okwiri for excellence.

KCSE RESULTS SUMMARY 2016CODE SUB A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D

+ D D- E ENTRY 2016 MG 2015 MG DEV

101 ENG 0 0 2 9 54 90 43 19 9 4 0 0 230 6.80 C+ 9.000 B -2.20

102 KISW 1 15 40 77 33 37 14 11 1 1 0 0 230 8.43 B- 10.022 B+ -1.59

121 MATHS 38 29 13 18 22 22 16 13 11 37 11 0 230 7:54 B- 10.096 B+ -2.56

231 BIO 6 18 41 41 32 43 9 17 12 8 0 0 227 8.00 B- 10.614 A- -2.61

232 PHYS 37 23 20 24 19 15 10 4 5 16 3 0 176 8.77 B 8.452 B- 0.32

233 CHEM *

10 14 21 32 %

25 17 19 18 10 39 3 0 207 7.01 C+ 7.340 C+ -0.33

311 HIST 18 14 11 19 12 6 7 3 0 1 0 0 91 9.33 B 9.423 B -0.09

312 GEO 35 21 21 17 10 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 113 10.19 B+ 8.865 B 1.33

313 CRE 33 18 15 8 11 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 89 10.46 A- 9.510 B+ 0.95

442 ART & DES 1 4 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 10.33 B+ 7.300 C+ 3.03

443 AGRI 1 10 8 17 9 14 7 8 7 6 2 0 89 7.40 C+ 10.536 A- -3.14

451 COMP 3 3 3 4 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 16 9.69 B 9.400 B 0.29

501 FREN 0 0 1 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 7 7.14 C+ .8.667 B -1.52

511 MUSIC 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 6.00 c 7.333 C+ -1.33

565 B/STUDIES 30 22 20 20 2 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 103 10.25 B+ 10.450 A- -0.20

OVERALL 0 25 48 45 31 41 23 12 4 1 0 0 230 8.313 B- 9.584 B+ -1.27

ing students’ discipline management in the 21st century is spearheaded by the school board of Management together with the school administration,” added Manoo.

The institution, situated in Makueni County along Wote – Kathonzweni road was the first school in the county to be upgraded to a National school with a current population of 1,028 students.

The school Motto: “Like a Tree Knowledge Grows” has seen it become

one of the highest performing schools in the county and it is also bracketed among the best per-forming schools in the country. Every year, over 90% of the candidates get direct admission to Kenyan universities and other universities around the world.

By Richard Shichangi

There was jubilation all round when parents, guardians, stu-dents and teachers at St Teresa

Itete in Matungu Sub County learnt that the school had posted impressive results in 2016 KCSE examinations, with a mean score of 6.08 to emerge third in the area.

They managed 4 B plus, 8 B plain,

St Teresa Itete records sterling KCSE results11B minus, 16 C plus, 22 C plain, 35 C minus, 27 D plus and 10 plain with 39 out of 136 students getting direct to the university.

Unlike many of their rivals that didn’t do well in the strictly monitored exams released by Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matinang’i, the school fraternity was elated for having produced the high-est quality grades in the Sub -County.

The Principal, Sylvester Ashoya wel-comed the results saying the strict moni-

toring ensured candidates received the marks they deserved and indicated their academic ability without prejudice.

He noted that as a school they have managed to add value to many of their students’ standing, some of whom had average and below average score at en-try. The school Deputy Principal, Protus Mwanza, observed that they realized tremendous improvement in Sciences where they recorded A plain grades.

Deputy Principal, Mr Mwanza left with Mr Ashoya in Suit receive a pricey cock from Mrs Rebeca Mwanando whose son Master Samuel Wanga scored B Plain of 64 points From 262 Marks in KCPE.

32 EDUCATION NEWS

By Elijah Nyaanga

Gionseri Girls’ Secondary School in Nyamache Sub-County, Kisii County is a hub and hallmark for

academic and spiritual excellence, com-mitted to nurturing life skills and talents among students. The school is situated in a serene environment, a kilometre from Nya-mache town.

Despite the school being in a rural set-ting, it has attracted students from far and wide. There is a good number of students enrolled in the school who hail from as far as Nakuru, Nairobi and Mombasa among other counties.

The school’s Motto; Arise and Shine, coupled with the Mission; To mould stu-dents academically, socially, physically and technologically to help them lead qual-ity lives and add value to the society, shows the commitment of the school management in making the institution a premier basic

Gionseri Girls: A hallmark of spiritual, academic distinction

BOM Chairman, Charles Nyakeri.Principal, Debrah Osoro.

Principal Debrah Osoro (in yellow blouse) and other members of staff.

A teacher helps students to fix apparatus during practicals at the

laboratory.

Students' Council members

Aerial view of the school.

Madam Debrah Osoro, BOM member, Job Ongeri (centre) and Mr. David

Nyangosi (Parents Association Chair-man) assessing the three storey

building under construction

School gate

Legball team and their teachers


School Anthem1. Gionseri Girls’ embrace Godliness we are,Determined to fly the purple divas,Obedience, respect, honesty build us,Academically, physically and mentally to shine.2. A favourable environment to thrive,A future foundation to build,All dreams come true,Academically, physically and mentally to shine.PURPLE DIVAS PURPLE DIVAS!3. The mission to accomplishTo be champions,We applaud our school,Academically, physically and mentally to shine.

education provider offering wholesome and quality education to students in readi-ness for tertially education.

Since Madam Debrah Osoro took over the helm of the school as the Principal early 2014, the school’s face has changed drasti-cally following the improved infrastructural facilities and introduction of motivational programmes and improvement of welfare of the staff and students. Mrs Osoro was promoted from Nyanchwa Girls where she was the Deputy Principal.

In 2016 KCSE examination results, Gionseri Girls recoded a mean score of 4.5 with candidature enrolment of 57 students. Though a drop from 2015’s 6.2 points, the school principal says they are determined to ensure the girls are not only excelling academically but also spiritually to be able to tackle challenges in the contemporary

world after school. They are targeting a mean score of 7.0 and above in this year’s (2017) KCSE exams. The school has regis-tered 60 candidates this year.

“We are committed to ensure our girls have a bright spiritual and academic future. In combination of the two, we are assured

of having responsible members in the so-ciety who will help in addressing various challenges facing the community,” she noted.

“We have guidance and counselling programmes that are handled by G & C committee together with Chaplaincy De-partment headed by Pastor Joan Moraa

Machoka. She helps is addressing spiritual needs for the girls. We also invite motivational speakers to speak on reproductive health, boy-girl relationships,” she added.

She attributed the school’s im-pressive improvement to the mutual working relationship with the staff, sponsor, Board of Management, cooperative parents, Ministry of

Education, Teachers Service Commission, political goodwill among other education stakeholders. The school is sponsored by Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA).

“First, I thank God for enabling us make it this far. I congratulate our students for carrying themselves responsibly through embracing discipline. To the staff, I thank them for their concerted efforts and work-ing selflessly to ensure we are moving to greater heights academically. Parents are so supportive whenever we need their help, I also applaud them,” she observed.

“Political goodwill has also had im-mense impact in our school. In a special way, we want to thank area MP Hon. Ste-phen Kengere Manoti (Bobasi Constitu-ency) for spearheading a fundraising that was presided over by H.E. Deputy Presi-dent William Ruto in October 2014. He has always stood with us. In the fundraising, we raised Sh.10 million plus continuous assistance from the National Constituency Development Fund (CDF) that has enabled us build a three-storey building which is 75 percent to completion,” said Mrs Osoro during an interview with Education News in her office.

The principal also applauds the Board of Management (BOM) Chairman, Mr. Charles Nyakeri, Masige West MCA Peter Omari among others for being instrumental to the school’s academic and infrastructural progress. The school head said, upon com-pletion, the story building will be able to accommodate 540 students and administra-

tion offices. The school’s student population stands at 300 students. They also embrace dairy farming for commercial purposes and also to supplement students’ feeding programme. She added that early syllabus coverage and joint examinations and bench-marking with the best performing schools has en-abled the school maintain an upward performance trend.

BackgroundThe 48-year-old school

was founded in the year 1969 by SDA denomination as a girl’s school, but due to public demand, it was transformed into a mixed secondary school. The school sits on a 1.59 hectare piece of land.

However, it was reverted into its initial one gender school in the year 2010, with boys getting phased out. The first lot of candidates under single gender sat KCSE examinations in 2013 attaining a mean score of 5.3, then 5.8 in 2014’s KCSE ex-ams. Mrs. Osoro is the first female Principal having been posted to the school on 20th January 2014. The institution is a full girls’ boarding school.

Mrs Osoro said they combine academic and co-curricular activities to en-able students grow holisti-cally. The school has been in the limelight for legball, handball, volleyball, athlet-ics, drama and music festi-

vals up to regional level.ChallengesMadam Debrah noted that the main

challenges they are facing are understaff-ing, inadequate infrastructural facilities (dormitories, laboratory and library) and shortage of water.

“We are determined to perform bet-ter despite the myriad challenges we are facing. We currently have eight Teachers Service Commission employed teachers against a student population of 300. We are understaffed by six teachers. In order to address the deficit in the teaching staff, we have employed six teachers under Board of Management (BOM) terms,” she noted.

She added: “We need a modern dormi-tory, consistent source of water, alternative source of lighting to fall back on in case of power outages or electricity faults, labora-tory to accommodate the big number of students because the existing one is in de-plorable state and we are also in need of a library.”

Mr. Nyakeri disclosed plans are under-way to sink a borehole to address water cri-sis in the school: “We will sink a borehole soon to help alleviate water shortage that we have been experiencing for a long time.

We are also hopeful we will get water from Kiobegi water project done by the county.”

He said plans are underway as well to rehabilitate the dilapidated road connecting the county school with Nyamache town.

“Our road from Nyamache town to the school is not in good status and it gets worse during rainy season. However, I know the area MP

Stephen Manoti is working on the is-sue. It will improve communication once upgraded and for that matter, it will take our school to the next level. We also have a plan of acquiring a school bus in the short-est time possible,” he said.

“We laud the Provincial Administra-tion and village elders for ensuring there is security around our school. I also want to congratulate our students for maintaining

discipline; we haven’t handled sneaking and other indiscipline cases among stu-dents,” he added.

The duo appealed for financial and moral support from the County Govern-ment and the surrounding community of the school to enable the institution make significant strides as far as academic is concerned.

33EDUCATION NEWS

EDUCATION NEWS 7JANUARY, 2017

ST. MARY’S MISSION HOSPITALMMCT-ST. MARY’S NURSING SCHOOL

DIPLOMA KENYA REGISTERED NURSE - MIDWIFEMen are Encouraged to APPLY

APRIL 2017

INTAKEONGOING

Application are invited from suitably qualified candidates from all over Kenya for admission at the MMCT- St Mary’s Nursing School to pursue the Diploma in Kenya Registered Nurse - midwife training program April 2017 intake.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Entry age: above 17 years.2. Must possess the National ID card/Passport/Birth Certificate3. Minimum Educational standards:i. KCSE Mean Grade C (Plain) or KCE Division IIii. Mandatory subjects:a) C (Plain/Credit) or above in English Language or Kiswahili.b) C(Plain/Credit) or above in Biology or Biological Sciences.c) Additional Mandatory Science subject: C- (Minus/Pass) in one of the following: Mathematics, or Physics, or Chemistry, or Physical science.

Application forms (at a non-refundable fee of Ksh.1000.) are available at the nursing school or from the Business Office in St. Mary’s Mission Hospital, Lang’ata in Nairobi

Return or mail your Completed application form together with a copy of your KCSE certificate and a copy of your national identity card to;

The Principle, MMCT- St Mary’s Nursing School, P.o Box 168 - 20116, GILGIL.

For more information please visit or contact us at;

MMCT-St Mary’s Nursing School St Mary’s Rift valley Mission Hospital (Elementaita) (Off Gilgil - Nakuru Highway near lake Elementaita)

P.o Box 168 - 20116, GILGIL

CELL PHONE; 0701 423 055 OR 0735 887 922

E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

www.smmh.co.ke

The college is among the well reputed institutions offering quality training for nurses. It’s accredited and approved by The Nursing Council of Kenya.

BACKGROUNDThe Nursing School is part of St. Mary’s Mission Hospitals (Lang’ata Nairobi and Elementaita Rift Valley). The hospital is one of the busiest non-govern-mental health care providers in Kenya.

St. Mary’s Nursing School was the second nursing school of its kind in Kenya authorized to train the Kenya Registered Nurse/Midwife (pre-service). MISSIONOur mission is to empower and inspire nurse learners to become thinkers and competent practitioners through theoretical instruction, practical experi-ence, and trainings..

MMCT-ST. MARY’S NURSING SCHOOLST. MARY’S MISSION HOSPITAL

Students in a lab session

Student in a class session

VISIONOur goal is to qualify high-performing KENYA REGISTERED NURSE-MID-WIVES and be the nursing school of choice throughout Kenya and the east-ern African region..PHILOSOPHYThe MMCT-ST. MARY’S NURSING SCHOOL beliefs that health is a ba-sic right for every person, and therefore there is need to train a Registered

Well stocked library to boost learning for trainee nurses.

The Nursing school boasts of state of the art facilities including a modern swimming pool

Entrance to College’s scintillating environment

Nurse-Midwife who is grounded in the physical, biological, and social sciences, and the ability to use critical thinking analytic processes in providing evidence-based skillful holistic healthcare to the individual, family, and community, equitably and with justice for all.COURSE OF TRAININGThe curriculum has been developed for training and preparing a com-bined course of the Kenya Registered Nurse and Kenya Registered Midwife in a 31/2-year training program. The KRNM training course is designed for the person who has interest in the Medical Nursing, Surgical Nursing and Pediatrics Nursing, and a passion for Reproductive health (Maternal and Child Health Care). QUALIFICATIONOn Successful completion of the training the graduate will be awarded the Diploma in Kenya Registered Nurse Midwife. Persons who qualify from the program are examined, registered, and licensed by the Nursing Council of Kenya, and can be employed by the Kenya’s Ministry of Health, County government health department, Church&/Faith-based organizations, Private hospitals, as well as Non-governmental organizations, both within and outside Kenya . Intakes in April and October of the year

Applications are on-going

The college is among the well reputed institutions offering quality train-ing for nurses. It’s accredited and approved by The Nursing Council of Kenya. Currently new development of infrastructures is on progress in line with the college’s goal of remaining the best.

By Kephas Ayiecha

Friends Bwake Boys Secondary School has now fully entered a category of academic giants in Trans Nzoia County, after it posted

a mean score of 7.43 in 2016 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE exams.

In 2015 the school was ranked third in Tran-Nzoia County after St. Joseph's National School which had a mean score of 11.01 and St. Bridgits Girls National School with a mean of 10.29. In last year’s exam, Friends Bwake Boys had 2A-, 21B+, 34B,26B-, 22C+, 19C, 30C-, and 7D+.

The School Principal, Benard Lukuya, how-ever, noted that there had been a drop from 10.03 in 2015 and 10.19 in 2014.In that year, Bwake Boys Secondary School was the best in Trans Nzoia East Sub County.

Lukuya said that with an increasing quest for value in education, the school is determined to of-fer today’s generation appropriate skills focussing on empowering the community within the rural ar-eas. He noted that the school is located in a serene rural environment in Cherangany that is conducive to learning.

The school’s sterling performance has at-tracted and encouraged students from the area who could not afford to pursue secondary education in traditional giants like St. Anthony Boys High Schools. Joseph's Boys National School and oth-ers which were known as the best schools in Trans Nzoia County.

With a student population of 1168 there has been much focus on the institution due to its con-sistent posting of better results every year. He said that he is confident that the school will post a

Friends Bwake Boys School posts sterling KCSE results

Friends School Bwake Principal, Benard Lukuya.

Form One students being admitted at Friends School Bwake.

fair ground for those students who hail from poor backgrounds.

He pointed out that now students will have to reap from their sweat unlike in the past when even after working very hard they still failed because those who seemed to be tricksters took advantage of the porous system to post better grades.

“Now we are strengthening our staff team Board of Management (BOM) and creating a conducive en-vironment to set the system rolling for the students to compete favourably,” he noted.

He adds that the school's community which comprises of students, parents, teachers and spon-sors have agreed to work together to ensure that their goals are attained when this year comes to a close. “We have agreed that we are going to utilise every opportunity that we have for the benefit of the com-munity and we have assured parents that we shall not let them down,” he added. He noted that the school has marked major milestones that were responsible for scaling up its mean score from 4 to the current one.

He says establishment of teachers’ quarters was a major boost to the school’s performance in addition to benchmarking tours and purchase of a school bus and van.

He therefore advised parents to be supportive by ensuring they pay fees early and encourage their children to focus on learning so that they can manage better individual scores.

“If we have better individual scores we will be sure that we will have gained much and that is where we are heading to,” he said.

Streamlining the individual scores will not only improve the school’s performance but will also have empowered the families as their children will have

secured better chances to pursue higher education. He said the school has devised strategies,

among them setting of targets among class teach-ers and individual students and identifying learn-ers who need special attention so that teachers can coach them to boost their confidence in working alone.

“We encourage everyone to take part in co-curricular activities as after a day’s concentration in classrooms, students’ energy to concentrate again has to be stimulated. This is done by participating in games and other sporting activities,” he noted. Stress levels that would have accumulated with the demands to meet deadlines or to unlock a difficult concept subside once a student becomes relaxed by engaging in a certain activity away from the class-room, he noted.

The Principal indicated that there was similar-ity between a student’s performance in class and his performance in other activities.

“We discovered that when we achieve in oth-er activities we gain the energy to achieve also in classwork,” he pointed out.

He gave an example of how the school has been performing well in football and at one time beat re-nowned Solidarity St. Anthony Boys High School to be crowned the County football champions forc-ing St. Anthony to go back to the drawing board.

“Since we started scaling the heights in ball games, our mean also started shooting up,” he add-ed. Through sports, the students are also nurtured to discover their talents which might be of help to them in future other than education only.

“If you are talented in a certain sporting activity it unlocks your potential to go further even if your academic records were not very good,” he said.

higher mean score. Mr Lukuya who is also the chairman of Kenya

Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Trans Nzoia County, said his focus is to ensure the school attains the best mean score in the county.

“Just watch our pace. We will not settle on a lower mean score, we are going to get the best in the county,” he said. Welcoming Cabinet Secretary (CS) of Education’s tough rules, Mr. Lukuya said it sets


34 EDUCATION NEWS

By Collins Akong’o

Since its inception in 1970s, Kenyatta High School Mwatate continues on the

path of success while growing even stronger through execution of its vision to be a leading centre for academic excellence.

The national school in Taita Taveta County is one of the best in the country and has continued to improve in terms of academic per-formance putting in place measures to ensure students excel in their ac-ademic work.

Located in Mwatate town, the school has been a national exams top former in the country with the class of 2016 doing well in the Ke-nya Certificate of Secondary Edu-cation (KCSE) exams.

The excellent performance saw 116 students who sat for the KCSE

Kenyatta High Mwatate leads again in varsity entry in Taita Taveta County

Kenyatta High School Mwatate Senior Principal, Severini Tole in his

office.

Administration block of Kenyatta High School Mwatate

Kenyatta High School main gate.

KENYATTA HIGH SCHOOL, TAITAACADEMIC RECORDS SINCE 2002 UPTO 2016

KENYATTA HIGH SCHOOL, TAITA ACADEMIC RECORDS SINCE 2002 UPTO 2015

YEAR ENTRY A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- E X Y M/S M/G DEV

2016 211 00 02 14 20 34 46 35 33 17 10 00 00 00 00 6.68 C+ -2

2015 165 00 14 33 42 28 18 10 01 00 00 00 00 00 19 8.75 B 0.62

2014 176 5 9 20 33 45 38 20 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 8.13 B- 0.6107

2013 191 3 12 11 36 37 35 27 15 11 4 0 0 0 0 7.52 B- 0.15

2012 186 0 10 20 24 37 32 29 20 9 5 0 0 0 0 7.37 C+ -0.93

2011 167 4 17 21 25 33 25 21 11 2 0 1 0 0 0 8.3 B- 1.15

2010 163 5 9 9 17 25 25 35 26 9 2 0 0 0 0 7.15 C+ -0.46

2009 151 1 11 18 22 23 27 29 10 7 2 0 0 0 0 7.61 B- 0.04

2008 144 0 17 11 19 28 22 20 12 10 3 0 0 0 0 7.57 B- -0.27

2007 156 0 7 18 24 43 25 28 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 7.84 B- -0.58

2006 142 2 9 28 26 38 22 12 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 8.42 B- 1.722

2005 149 1 3 6 19 26 20 28 27 14 5 0 0 0 0 6.7 C+ -0.787

2004 130 0 4 14 24 19 30 20 15 4 0 0 0 0 0 7.49 C+ 0.502

2003 118 0 3 13 10 20 20 21 22 8 1 0 0 0 0 6.98 C+ -0.617

2002 96 0 6 12 18 14 16 13 13 3 1 0 0 0 0 7.6 B- 1.44

institution into a centre of academic excellence.

“We are utilizing our time and re-sources in pursuit of quality of edu-cation and improvement in perfor-mance. Thus our mission is to emerge the best performing school not only in

the County but nationally,” Mr Tole stated.

“We have to expose our students by improving their reasoning capac-ity when tackling questions. We also invite motivational speakers and a number of resource persons to guide the candidates in their preparations,”

he added.The staff has also resolved to

make holistic development a key priority and to continue creating stu-dent-friendly environment that allows

them to exploit their fullest potential and also engage each of them in dia-logue.

Mr Tole revealed that school rou-tine and programmes have been made as dynamic and flexible as possible to suit different students each year, es-pecially candidates. The programmes also allow for spiritual and social growth.

The school is currently working

on an alumni programme through which its plan is to contribute to its developments.

Kenyatta High, according to the Principal is heading in the right direction and that they have been lucky to produce senior personality including the first Governor of Taita

Taveta County, Eng. John Mruttu, Voi MP, Jones Mlolwa and Kalo-leni MCA Omar Mohamed, Mo-hamed Swazuri ( Lands Commis-sioner) Hon Chief Justice Msagha

Mbogholi among others.Kenyatta High has put in place a

framework in which all stakehold-ers engage in teamwork including the National government, Board of Management (BoM) and Par-ents-Teachers Association (PTA), students and teachers to create a conducive atmosphere for the real-ization of the set objectives.

last year qualify for direct admission into public universities, af-ter posting A-2, B+ 15, B plain 19 B- 34 C+ 46 with a mean score of 6.68.

According to the Principal Mr Severini Tole, the exemplary performance is not only as a result of stu-dents’ high-level dis-cipline and teaching staff collective hard work but also mag-nificent work of the school administration and the subordinate staff.

He said school ad-ministration has put all necessary mea-sures to transform the

jANUARY 27 - fEbRUARY 10, 2017

35EDUCATION NEWS

By Munene Maina

It was pomp and colour when PCEA Na-kuru West Medical College marked yet another milestone achievement after it

held its 3rd graduation ceremony at the col-lege ground during which 40 graduands were awarded with Diplomas and Certificates in Nursing.

During the well-attended colourful event that was graced by top Nakuru County Health Officers, parents, guardians and other invited dignitaries, the College Board Chairman, Mr Peter Muraguri told the graduands that the col-lege was committed to the training and prepa-ration of a comprehensive professional nurse who is competent in provision of holistic care of individual, family and the community.

“We have no doubts that our graduates

PCEA Nakuru Medical College holds its 3rd graduation

Mr Amos Ronoh, Principal. Mr P. Muraguri, College Chairman

Dr Patricia, Board Vice Chairperson

Graduates in a procession

Staff members during the graduation.

have acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate for them to function as members of health care team,” he added. This, he said, was possible due to a conducive learning en-vironment within the college.

“We thank God for allowing us train com-mitted professionals who will be of great help to the communities not only in this nation but also globally,” said, adding that besides nurs-ing education the nursing college was in the forefront in carrying out other community services, some speared headed by the nursing students.

The College Principal, Mr Amos Ronoh said they were committed to producing quali-fied and Registered Nurses.

“We don’t compromise on quality. We have ensured that all our students meet all requirements before they are admitted. Our professional and friendly staff ensure students get quality training that enables them to work anywhere in the world,” said the Principal.

He noted that since the college’s inception it has continued to churn out practical and tal-ented student who are equal to nursing duties. “The good thing with our college our students are trained to be job creators,” he added.

Living up to its Motto: ‘Advance in Knowledge and Skill’, the college has been excelling owing to supportive board members, the church and parents, Mr Ronoh said add-

P.C.E.A NAKURUWEST MEDICAL COLLEGE

“Advance in Knowledge and Skills”

KENYA REGISTERED NURSING CLASS: MODE OF APPLICATION

COURSE DURATION: Three (3) yearsREQUIREMENTS: ♦ KCSEC (plain)Mandatory Subjects:English or Kiswahili - C (Plain)Biology or Biological Sciences - C(Plain)AND♦ KCSE C- (MINUS) in any ONE ofthe following subjects:-Physical Sciences -Chemistry -Physics -MathemeticsExamining Body (Nursing Council Of Kenya)Practical Site - PGH NAKURU - NJORO HEALTH CENTRES

Please send an application let-ter addressed to the Principal, PCEA Nakuru West College, P.O. Box 7120-20100, Nakuru. En-closed photocopies of academic certificates and non-refundable processing fee of Kshs 1,000 in form of money order payable to PCEA Suburb College Nakuru or Deposit at the Kenya Commercial Bank Account No. 1108144403. Kindly indicate your phone number and Email address when applying

LOCATED IN THE CHURCH COMPOUND OF RC.E.A NAKURU WEST SUBURB CHURCH ALONG BIASHARA STREET P.O BOX 7120-20100, Call: 0703 500 980 or 0722 919 471 Email: [email protected], Website: www.pceanakuruwestparish.org

SEPT/OCTINTAKE INPROGRESS

By Munene Maina

One of the fundamental human rights is the right of every individual to the enjoyment of the highest attainable

standard of health.It is this deep conviction and recognition that this right must be guaranteed without distinc-tion of race, religion, ideology or socio-eco-nomic status that PCEA Nakuru West Medical College is doing what it does best - preparing comprehensive professional nurses.

The institution started in the year 1995 as Suburb College is set up within a church compound and is fully sponsored by PCEA Nakuru West Suburb Church and Roswell Presbyterian Church, Georgia USA.

The College is at forefront in training and equipping the personnel ready to serve God through nursing service.

According to the Principal Mr Amos Rono the College runs a strict curriculum that ad-heres to the requirements of the Nursing Pro-fession in Kenya.

“As an approved college by the Nursing Council of Kenya, we have continued to offer Kenya Registered Nurse training to our stu-dents who come from all parts of the country,” he said, adding “all our activities are laced with Christian principles and ethics”. The college is registered by Nursing Council of Kenya.

The reputable School of Nursing shares the World Health Organisation (WHO) 1948 definition of Health as ‘a state of complete Physical, Mental and Spiritual wellbeing and not merely the absence of diseases or infir-mity.’

The college is committed to the prepara-tion of a comprehensive professional nurse who is competent in provision of holistic care of the individual, family and the community at large.

It has created a learning environment which is conducive to enable the trainee acquire the knowledge; develop skills and attitudes that

Why P.C.E.A Nakuru West Medical College is best

Members of the Fuculty and Board with the CEC Health Dr. Daniel Mungai.

Past graduation Procession.

Graduates in a past event.

are necessary to meet their noble nurs-ing obligations to the community.

The school believes in preparing a nurse who will through research partici-pate in improving the nursing services as needs arise in society.

For the College, clinical experience takes place in the rural and urban areas

to enable the graduate to practice and provide quality nursing in all health care delivery settings.

Students practice at Rift Val-ley Provincial General Hospital a large Government provincial hospital located in Nakuru town among other health Institutions.

APRIL / MAY 2017 INTAKE IN PROGRESS

ing: “We are expanding our infrastructural facilities to give the college a new face.”

The medical college which was started in 1995 is set up within the church com-pound and has been instrumental in equip-ping youth by training and developing them towards achieving their goals.

Anchored in Christian values and eth-ics, and belief that health is a fundamen-tal right to each individual, the institution has endeavored to fulfill this part of church healing ministry and mission, Ronoh not-ed.

The college is fully sponsored by the PCEA Nakuru West Church and Rosewell Presbyterian Church in Georgia, USA, he said.

“ Only six years ago the college admit-ted six students, but today the population has grown to over 135 students. The school has so far graduated 120 students, the Principal noted, adding that the college has introduced a new course in midwifery after getting the nod from the Nursing Council of Kenya.

The college reflects the face of the nation as it admits students from allover Kenya and from diverse religion back-grounds, he said adding that this year’s graduation theme was ‘Nursing Changing Lives’.

Its Vision is:To be a college of academic excellence founded on Christian ethics and values and to reach out to the community with a commitment to improving the quality of life for all people.

The Mission Statement is: To transform the community through training and academic excellence founded on Christian values and

ethics by training competent and God fearing individuals who will serve selflessly in Kenya and globally.

By Amoto Ndiewo

Twelve years after the Late Mzee Kimani Maruge took advantage of universal free primary educa-

tion to go back to class in 2004, a 51-year-old cook at Handaro Primary has joined the school’s Standard One class. The decision by Abdi Dirir Olow to go back to the classroom has been driven specifically by need to learn Kiswahili.

According to his teacher, Fred Sigoria, although the cook has been in the school for the last six years, the recent and constant police patrols has ignited him to attend school and learn the language. The cook admits that though the patrols are good for secu-

rity-check the security officers always speak in Kiswahili, a language he ill-understands.

Olow who is married to Amina Mohamed and have 11 children says that the cops always harass him con-stantly by asking for his ID and asking many questions in an area which is not far from Boni forest and Ras Kaimboni, an area known be inhabited by Al Sha-baab operatives

As a result of threats from the ter-rorists, border patrols have been upped in the region thus explaining the huge security presence.

Although Olow is a grandfather of three from his eldest daughter and his second son is a Form Four candidate at Holugho Boys Secondary, he is a

schoolmate of two of his children.‘’Ismail Abdi is in Standard Three

and his younger brother Hamud is his father’s classmate in Standard One,’’ said Sigoria. He explains that since many teachers fled Garissa due to Al Shabaab terror attacks on non-locals, the school has only two Teachers Ser-vice Commission (TSC) teachers and uses a multi-grade system of education wherein many classes are combined and taught by a teacher.

According to Sigoria, Olow com-monly known as Abdio has to multi-task between work and lessons unlike Murage who was a model student and had all his time for school and even elected head boy at his school.

51-year-old cook joins Class One to learn Kiswahili

Olow and teacher Sigoria during one of the study sessions.Photo/Amoto Dennis

jANUARY 27 - fEbRUARY 10, 2017

Education News is published fortnightly by SHREND PUBLISHERS & SUPPLIES LTD. Head Office: Osiligi Building, Second Floor, Ongata Rongai,

P.O. Box 7732 - 00100 GPO, NAIROBI. TEL: 020 6001006 / 0737 965259 / 0722 883143 / 0734 515902 E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] Website: www.educationnews.co.ke

Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper

The Best Selling Newspaper on Education

Education INSIDE 83% of public schools have no title deeds - Pg 4

By Ongondi Nyakundi

Education Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i has maintained he will

continue fighting for reforms in the sector despite negative criticism from a section of politicians.

According to the CS most of the deep-rooted cases of corruption being experienced in Kenya today started with shortcuts that Kenyans chose to take in the Education sector.

Speaking at Mwongori Secondary in Nyamira County, Dr Matiang'i said he is ready to continue with same measures he pursued last year in the administration of national examinations both at primary and secondary schools.

"There is no shortcut on the progress we want to undertake in the Ministry of Education. We will no longer allow exam cheating in our country. We need our children to grow as responsible people," he said.

He said that children are the focus of the parents' struggle, adding that there are no two ways to life. "These are reforms that are in line with the current Jubilee administration and

that are being spearheaded by President Uhuru Kenyatta," the CS added.

Matiang’i got the backing of Borabu MP Ben Momanyi who told off those who continue to attack Ministry of Education officials particularly the CS over the manner the government handled the release of the national examinations.

"I want to go against my Party Leader, Raila Odinga and

other Opposition leaders for their attack on the Education CS. We have never had such a hardworking and dedicated minister in the country like the current one. We can engage politically on other issues but not on education matters," he said.

He added: "Most of the challenges are normal but we must do away with those people who always dwell on propaganda."

The CS called on the youth to enroll for technical courses as he issued a certificate of registration for Borabu Teachers Training College.

Matiang’i also announced that the Government had allocated Sh20 million for the construction of the college with an additional of Sh20 million from Borabu Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

"We have a funny situation in Kenya where we have a high population of people with University papers yet we lack people with technical skills. The government and most international companies working in Kenya are forced to import such skilled people because we lack the numbers," he added.

Matiang’i: Education reforms will continue

By John Machio

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has effectively rolled out a Teacher Performance Appraisal

System after training over 23,000 Head Teachers across Kenya as well as several members of Boards of Management, Edu-cation News has established.

The Head teachers and Boards of Man-agement members were trained at various centres from December 19 to 23, 2016 on Teacher Performance Appraisal Devel-opment, ahead of opening of schools on January 4th for the First Term session.

Prior to training Heads and Board members, the Commission had trained 141 Sub-county Directors and 1,031 Cur-riculum Support Officers to act as trainers of school Heads and Board members.

In an Internal Memo (TSC/AGD/TM/PRIEDE/VOL.1/5) dated December 14, 2016, the Commission Secretary/Chief Executive, Nancy Macharia said Curricu-lum Support Officers and the Sub-country Directors were trained to carry out train-ing of Head teachers and sensitize Boards of Management of schools under PRIEDE Programme.

Funds to facilitate this training pro-gramme were disbursed to the TSC County accounts where County Directors were required to account for the money and submit returns to the TSC/PRIEDE Account.

During the sensitization workshops, Heads and Board members were also tak-en through Teacher Performance Apprais-al Development (TPAD) System, TPAD teaching standards and TPAD operational

tools. The overview of performance con-tracting, resource mobilization and par-ents/community participation were also covered. Conflicts in Boards of Manage-

ment were also discussed at length during the workshops.

The Commission has embraced Re-sult Based Performance Management

Approach, which entails Performance Contracting for Heads of primary and post-primary institutions and Perfor-mance Appraisal system for ordinary teachers (Assistant Teachers).

The purpose of Performance Man-agement System in the Teaching Ser-vice is to improve performance stan-dards and professionalism with a view to enhancing the image of the teaching profession and learning outcomes.

The Commission has developed an open Performance Appraisal System for teachers. The aim of the system is to strengthen supervision, offer profes-sional support and continuously moni-tor the performance and conduct of teachers.

To this end, TSC County Director is required to coordinate institutionaliza-tion of teacher performance appraisal; monitor the conduct and performance of teachers; ensure compliance to the requirements of the appraisal process; prepare teacher appraisal report analy-sis and submit the same to TSC Head-quarters. The County Director will also arbitrate any disputes arising from the

Performance Appraisal processes where necessary.

TSC trains, rolls out Teacher performance appraisals

Wilson Sossion, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General in a jig with Nancy Macharia, Teachers Service Commission CEO during the union’s 59th Annual Delegates Conference held at Kasarani stadium recently.

By Elijah Nyaanga

A visually impaired stu-dent at Thika High School for the Blind

has been forced to drop out of school for lack of school fees.

Enock Ogari Ogero, 25, from Bosigisa village in Boba-racho Ward, Nyaribari Chache Constituency, was to join Form Two as from January 5, 2017.

Speaking to Education

News in Kisii town, Ogero said his hope of becoming a law-yer after secondary education is shrinking each passing day passing, because his mother, Jane Moraa Ogero, is not able to pay for his school fees and of his siblings. His mother is a peasant hawker in Kisii town.

The partial orphan, having lost his father Samuel Ogero in 1997, said a senior County offi-cial has promised two separate times that he could support him in vain. He hopes the official will fulfill his promise.

“I am forced to drop out of school for lack of school fees. I have gone through treacherous path, depending on well-wish-ers from early primary but I am left with no option but to defer my studies because I have no school fees. I am required to have at least Sh40, 000 so that I can be allowed in school,” said the second born in a family of five.

He is appealing to any well-wisher (s) to intervene and sup-port him to complete his sec-ondary education and pursue his career of law. To complete Form 4, he is required to have at least Sh116, 000.

Visually impaired student pleads for help

to finish school

Enock Ogari Ogero, the visually impaired Form Two student at Thika High school for the Blind.

jaNuary 27 - fEbruary 10, 2017

Crisis in NEP schools as WFP cuts food supplies - Page 13

ranking of schools in 2016 kcse ...educationnews.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/education...top...

Documents