Our Lady of Fatima Kiriko Girls Secondary School in Gatundu North, Kiambu County, has trained its focus on improving the school’s performance on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
The end is that they will be able to transition more of their girls to university, having made English, Kiswahili and Agriculture familiar territory with excellent performances. The school was the top performer in Agriculture in the sub-county in the 2022 and 2023 KCSE.
This was revealed during the school’s Prize Giving Day held at the institution last month where students who have excelled in diverse fields, including those who were top performers in last year’s KCSE, received awards.
As a way of achieving their objective, the school has already established the Technical and Applied Sciences Department that is designed to empower and woo the girls, as well as guide them towards the STEM subjects, and eventually to STEM-related careers.
A representative of the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Gatundu North Sub-County hailed the adoption of the new strategies that will ensure that students excel in the STEM subjects, particularly Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry.
He noted that the school, which is among the top performing institutions in the sub-county, recorded a slight improvement last year from a mean score of 5.0 to 5.3.
He exuded confidence that the 2024 Form Four will register better results, noting that there’s commendable collaboration between all stakeholders, including parents, students and teachers. The school took 28 students to university last year out of the 143 who sat their KCSE.
“Kiriko Girls have been the top performers in Agriculture and they have also been excelling in languages. However, I believe that our girls can top even in other subjects and especially the STEM subjects. It’s good to note that the current class of 2024 has set their targets right and we are optimistic that they will post high grades,” he said.
The official also hailed the school for being in the forefront in co-curricular activities, noting that students have been shining in music, drama and various sporting activities.
“Not all students are blessed in academics and most are shining and scaling heights in extra-curricular activities and this is in line with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) where their talents will be honed at this level,” he said.
He also challenged students to work extra hard in their academics so as to post better results and further shape their academic and career paths.
Samuel Kanja, an author and counsellor, who was the chief guest during the event, cautioned the girls not to get involved in vices such as lesbianism, early sex, and drug and substance abuse, but instead focus on their education for the sake of their future.
He also challenged them to get out of their comfort zones and stop being held back by their social or economic backgrounds.
“Also go the extra mile and do more than required. You have to create more study time even at home so that you can get the good grades we are talking about,” Kanja said.
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School Principal Judy Muthoni reiterated that their mission is to ensure that every individual within the school succeeds.
“We provide our girls with the finest possible chances to develop into confident, intelligent young individuals who are ready for any upcoming difficulties,” she noted. “Our school is founded on the Catholic faith. Our school is known for its rich reputation for academic excellence. Special stress has been laid on character formation and development of personality.”
In February, the school was in the limelight after admitting a Form One girl who had been held back by financial hiccups. The girl, Sarah Khanali Songoi, was rescued by a local businessman from the rut of poverty that had made it impossible to pursue her education.
Muthoni then noted that the school, through its Guidance and Counselling Department, would mentor the girl and offer her moral and psychological support to ensure that she concentrates on her studies and excel.
“We understand that she might be psychologically tortured by the humble situation in her home but our counsellors will walk with her through her journey and ensure that she shines in her studies,” she said.
By Kamau Njoroge
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