By Kage Njoroge
Education stakeholders from Murang’a county have expressed concern over the dismal performance of secondary school students in the region.
Data from the county docket of Quality Assurance and Standards reveals that after secondary school education, most learners stay at home since they failed to score quality grades for admission to pursue competitive courses at universities and tertiary colleges.
The data further revealed that in the recent years, the number of wasted grades have significantly increased and that most students score very poorly to even secure admissions into vocational and technical colleges.
The analysis documented by County Director of Education Ann Kiilu revealed that performance in crucial subjects like Mathematics, Sciences and Languages has been nose-diving over the years in the region.
She expressed concern that despite the poor performance, many politicians have demonstrated little concern over the ills bedeviling the country’s basic education sector.
Her analysis revealed that the most affected candidates are those enrolled at mixed day secondary schools.
In 2021 KCSE, a paltry 32 candidates managed to score grade A from a candidature of 30,081 students who sat for this crucial determinant examination.
A dismal 4,832 candidates scored C+ and above. 26,249 students scored grades C to E.
In 2020 KCSE, 27,549 candidates registered for the exams but only 41 got grade A with most students garnering poor results after years of laborious learning.
Overally, 5165 students got C+ and above while some 22,384 candidates scored grade C and below.
Within a span of ten years (2012-2021), data analysis reveals that only 385 candidates from the county scored grade A.
Kiilu stated in the document some of the strategies which could confront the malaise include active involvement of all stakeholders.
She details effective and measurable implementation of the curriculum and quality teaching delivery is a key measure to tackle the challenges. She further added that capacity building of teachers through regular and focused professional seminars, assessment and monitoring of teaching and learning at classroom levels will also help.
She added that active subject panels should be formed across the county by concerned teachers to sort out teaching weaknesses to strengthen their delivery and acceptance by the learners.
She further challenged local leaders , parents and stakeholders to provide supportive facilities and motivational packages to recognize and award performance in schools.
