Busia: Salvation Army Kolanya Girls National School Chief Principal Dr. Tabitha Okama has expressed confidence that the school, which secured the top position in the 2024 KCSE in the county, has the potential to improve further on that performance. Dr. Okama emphasized their journey as a national school with the aim of maintaining their prominence.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Okama also highlighted infrastructure challenges, noting the need for support to elevate the school’s facilities to a national standard, including the construction of a dormitory and dining hall. The 2024 KCSE introduced a new grading system by KNEC, aiming to enhance fairness for students by considering their strengths in certain subjects while acknowledging struggles in others. The revised system mandates assessment in mathematics and allows for grading based on the best-performed language among English, Kiswahili, or Kenya Sign Language.
Dr. Okama mentioned that over the past three years, they have prioritized Mathematics with programs twice a week and a special initiative to address the low attitude towards the subject among some girls. Nairobi Assembly Majority Leader Peter Imwatok noted the achievement of a mean score of 8.04, placing the school among the top 5 in Western Kenya, despite challenges. He stressed the importance of timely government capitation to schools and encouraged local sugar companies to embrace Corporate Social Responsibility.
Teso North Sub County Director Elizabeth Marangach praised the school’s performance despite challenges like a broken borehole, highlighting its rise from last position among seven counties a decade ago to first in the 2024 exams. Marangach urged teachers to continue their efforts, expressing confidence that the discipline of 2025 KCSE students would lead to even better results. Angurai East Member of the County Assembly David Parapara also commended the school for its top performance in the county.