Why some KCPE candidates are not excited by good grades
By Moses Ngahu
The 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary education (KCPE) exam results were eagerly waited for all over the country. The exam results were released on Monday with anxious parents and children flocking to schools to know their fate.
However, while a majority of candidates are excited about joining high school, a section is not all thrilled despite scoring good grades in the exams. This is due to a number of reasons, including a lack of funds to finance their secondary education, among others.
While candidates celebrated exam results, at Ngwata Primary School in Mlolongo, Machakos County, the mood was different as reported by the Nation. Most parents in the school are casual workers. As the students visited the school to know their fate, their faces could tell a lot. They wore faces of uncertainty, not knowing what the future holds for them or if that future is practical.
Most parents cannot afford the school fees for their children and this makes it hard for the children to pursue secondary education. Most of the learners come from disadvantaged and dysfunctional backgrounds. At times, it is a challenge to even find something to eat. The top candidates Jeremy Musila and Simon Charo scored 385 marks while Mercy Mueni was the top girl with 377 marks.
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Teachers and pupils at Ngwata Primary School, led by headteacher Faith Mwende Maeke (red jacket) celebrate 2021 KCPE exam results. |Courtesy| Nation|[/caption]
The mood around the school was calm even with the results showing they performed better as the children already knows their fate. The headteacher, Ms Faith Mwende Maeke said, “From the small number of students who have been able to check their results, it is evidence that half of the candidates scored 320 marks.
Transition to secondary schools is a challenge for those living in the area as the parents cannot afford to pay the secondary education school fees. Last year alone, out of 324 students who sat for their KCPE, only 35 of the group managed to join secondary school they were admitted to. The rest joined nearby day schools and vocational training centres despite being admitted to some of the best high schools.
Out of the 35 students, 10 of them are beneficial of Amara Charitable Trust, NGCDF sponsored another 6 students, Patrick Makau foundation sponsored 16 pupils while Equity Wings to Fly sponsored 3.
The headteacher said, “Together with the teachers, we sponsor 3 students at Mlolongo Secondary School where we can manage to pay for their fees since it’s a day school.”
Ngwata Primary School has a population of 3,021 students and is located at the heart of Mlolongo Phase 3. The school is one of the most populated pray schooling lower Eastern and is also ranked among the top 50 schools in Kenya with the highest population. However, besides the high number of students, the school only has 35 teachers.
Most classes have over 250 students with the average class size recording 137 students. The headteacher does not have a physical office and operates from one of the classrooms together with other teachers. Most of the students are vulnerable and the headteacher acts as a mother in some cases. She explains that she is forced to step in and help the children, especially after a family dispute.
Teachers and pupils at Ngwata Primary School, led by headteacher Faith Mwende Maeke (red jacket) celebrate 2021 KCPE exam results. |Courtesy| Nation|[/caption]
The mood around the school was calm even with the results showing they performed better as the children already knows their fate. The headteacher, Ms Faith Mwende Maeke said, “From the small number of students who have been able to check their results, it is evidence that half of the candidates scored 320 marks.
Transition to secondary schools is a challenge for those living in the area as the parents cannot afford to pay the secondary education school fees. Last year alone, out of 324 students who sat for their KCPE, only 35 of the group managed to join secondary school they were admitted to. The rest joined nearby day schools and vocational training centres despite being admitted to some of the best high schools.
Out of the 35 students, 10 of them are beneficial of Amara Charitable Trust, NGCDF sponsored another 6 students, Patrick Makau foundation sponsored 16 pupils while Equity Wings to Fly sponsored 3.
The headteacher said, “Together with the teachers, we sponsor 3 students at Mlolongo Secondary School where we can manage to pay for their fees since it’s a day school.”
Ngwata Primary School has a population of 3,021 students and is located at the heart of Mlolongo Phase 3. The school is one of the most populated pray schooling lower Eastern and is also ranked among the top 50 schools in Kenya with the highest population. However, besides the high number of students, the school only has 35 teachers.
Most classes have over 250 students with the average class size recording 137 students. The headteacher does not have a physical office and operates from one of the classrooms together with other teachers. Most of the students are vulnerable and the headteacher acts as a mother in some cases. She explains that she is forced to step in and help the children, especially after a family dispute.
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