School principals on the secrets for good performance

From posting a mean score of 5.83 (C plain) in 1990 to 9.5 in 2008 (B plain), the school’s performance is on a rapid improvement. “We are determined to ensure the school becomes an excellent performer to compete with top giants,” said principal Mrs Imelda Barasa who joined the school a few year ago.
St Joseph’s Boys High School in Kitale also posted impressive results. The school, with a student population of 1,600, is rated among the top performers in the country. The institution scored a mean grade of 8.7, up from 8.5 the previous year. According to the school principal Peter Obwogo, the institution has been admitting an average of 120 students to public universities in the last six years.

At the Coast, Sheikh Khalifa Zayed Al Nahyan Secondary School has become an emerging academic giant. Out of 170 candidates who sat the KCSE exam, 13 got straight As, 28 A minus, 34 B plus, 25 B plain, 34 B minus, 20 C plus and eight C plain. However, this is a far cry to the school’s highest performance of 2003 where 95 per cent of the 102 candidates made university entry marks.

Says the current principal Prof Khalifan Mazrui: “That performance put us on the map of who’s who when it comes to national examinations in the country.” And Bahati Girls Secondary School in Nakuru North District has emerged as undisputed academic giant in Rift Valley Province for the past five years.

“We know the girls are smart upstairs by virtue of being selected to join Bahati Girls, but that alone is not enough and what we tell hem is that good results come with a lot of discipline and focus and believing in themselves,” said school principal Sister Magdalyne Muinde. Another factor that has contributed to the school tremendous success story is the family forum where students discuss a wide range of issues affecting them.

Baricho Boys’ Secondary School in the larger Kirinyaga district is fast becoming a force to reckon with in the academic field. It was little known until 2002 when it started shining in the national examinations. The school has dethroned former academic giants such as Kerugoya Boys and Ngiriambu Girls’ that were dominating top positions.

Due to its exemplary performance in KCSE, its fame has spread and male students in the area and many more from other parts of the country are fighting hard to join it. In 2007 the school took 39 students to the public universities. And in 2008 it produced 85 students who qualified to join state universities. That year the school was position two in the district.

The school principal Robert Kamau attributed the performance to hard work by the students and teachers. Wiobiero Secondary School in Homa Bay District has maintained a steadfast improvement to become the best school in the district. And Obambo Mixed Secondary School set off as a small school but has moved through the ranks to becoming the best day school in the larger Siaya District.

Started in 2005 under principal Victor Omondi Makanda, the school has maintained the same position since its first KCSE exam in 2006. In 2008, the school emerged position 27 in Nyanza and the best day school in the province. In Rachuonyo South District, the transformation of Gendia High School came in 2003 under the leadership of principal John Oluoch.

The school has moved steadily from a mean score of 4.0 in 2005 to 6.28 in the 2009, while at the same time showing prospects of performing better. The administration has also improved enrolment from 150 to more than 350 students from forms one to four.

Still in Rachuonyo South District, Nyangiela Mixed Secondary School has improved from a mean score of 4.0 in 2005 to 5.25 in 2009.The school principal, Mr Elly Owiti, however said that overpopulation due to free secondary tuition is working against the staff effort.

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