Girls made a dramatic entry to the ranks of Standard Eight examinations top performers, dominating top slots in the Rift Valley.
And the reigning queen in the region in this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations whose results were released Monday, was June Jeptoo Koech of Sangalo Central Primary School in Nandi County, who scored 439 marks to emerge the toast of the region.
Nationally, she was second, sharing that crown with two others.
Her feat was made even sweeter by the fact that she was in a public school, dismantling the trend that best performance obtains in private schools.
Following closely in her footsteps were three candidates from the South Rift: James Githuku and Derric Prince of Highpeak and Caleb Sameri of Lizar Schools, Nakuru, all scored 436 marks.
The trio was followed by Hebon Mang’ongo Orangi of Kagaki School, also in Nakuru County, who obtained 435 marks.
REDUCED GRADES
Overall, the best candidate nationally was Andy Michael Munyiri of Damcrest Schools in Thogoto, Kikuyu, who scored 440 marks.
In second place was the threesome of Flavian Onyango of Chakol Girls in Busia County, June Cheptoo Koech of Sangalo Central in Nandi County and Sean Michael Ndung’u of Kitengela International School. They all scored 439 marks.
But this year’s top grades were below last year’s where the best candidates — Olive Mwea Wachira of Riara Road Primary in Nairobi and Rawlings Odhiambo Aketch of Kakamega Hill School — both scored 453 marks.
In 2017, the best candidate was Goldalyn Kakuya of St Annes Junior School, Lubao, in Kakamega, who had 455 marks. Performance at the top declined compared to previous years.
Some 9,770 candidates obtained 400 marks and above, which was a drop from last year’s 12,205 and 9,846 in 2017.
Even so, the number of those scoring between 301 and 400 rose slightly to 243,320 compared to 223,862 last year.
PERFORMANCE PER SUBJECT
But the notable feat this time round was the splendid performance of public school candidates.
Three candidates obtained the second highest mark at 439, two of them, girls, were from public schools.
The duo was Flavian Onyango of Chakol Girls in Busia County and June Cheptoo Koech of Sangalo Central in Nandi County.
Releasing the results Monday, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha commended public schools for stellar performance, overcoming hurdles to post good grades.
“That public school candidates matched their private school candidates is proof that our Free Primary Education Programme has come of age and that our teachers are excelling in spite of the higher enrolment. It is also evident that girls are competing favourably against boys for top honours,” said Prof Magoha.
The results were released at Mtihani House on Dennis Pritt Road, Nairobi. A total of 1,083,456 candidates sat the exams in 26,284 centres countrywide.
There were 543,582 boys and 539,874 girls. This was a slight increase over last year’s 1,052,344 candidates consisting of 527,294 males and 525,070 females.
Candidates did better in four out of the six subjects on offer — English, Kiswahili, Kenya Sign Language, Social Studies and Religious Education. Performance lapsed in mathematics and science.
In terms of gender, boys led in maths, science and social studies and religious education while girls excelled in English, Kiswahili and Kenya Sign Language.
DREAM ACHIEVED
There were 2,407 candidates with special needs and the best of them scored 414 marks, while some 211 had between 300 and 400 marks.