Garissa’s Baitul Hikma Integrated Academy shines as stakeholders applaud new education system

Elhan Abdiweli top student from Baitul Hikma Integrated Academy is lifted shoulder high by Teachers and  parents from the school./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

AbdiMajid Abdirizack a former student at Baitul Hikma Integrated Academy. He was among top perfomers./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Fahan Hussein, Mother to Garissa's Top girl  Elhan Abdiweli speaking to the press at Baitul Hikma Integrated Academy./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Baitul Hikma Integrated Academy has once again put Garissa County on the education map, with learners, parents, and educators hailing the new education system after strong performance in the recently released Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).

Just like during the defunct Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), where private schools often outperformed public schools, the results were no different this time, with private schools maintaining their dominance.

Stakeholders praised the new education system, saying it effectively identifies and nurtures learners’ individual strengths while helping them succeed in areas where they show the greatest potential.

Speaking to the press moments after receiving her results, Elhan Abdiweli from Baitul Hikma Integrated Academy noted that the system allows teachers to better understand each learner’s abilities, interests, and learning pace, making classroom instruction more learner-centred and practical.

“Personally, I am loving the new system since it moves away from exam-oriented learning and instead focuses on developing skills, talents, and competencies that prepare learners for real-life challenges,” she said.

Elhan, who was among the top students in the county, attributed her success to hard work, prayers, and the support of her parents and teachers.

She, however, urged the government to fast-track the recruitment of more teachers, stressing that the system can only thrive if classrooms are adequately staffed.

“As a learner, my appeal to the government is to consider recruiting more teachers in schools. They say education is an equaliser. I would wish to see a situation where all learners, irrespective of their background or the school they attend, get quality education. That is the only way the system will work well and we will move forward as a country,” she said.

On his part, AbdiMajid Abdirizack, who also excelled in the exams, expressed enthusiasm, saying the new system has made learning more engaging and less stressful by recognising different abilities rather than judging all pupils using the same standards.

Speaking at the school during the celebrations, Rufuf Kiiru, the school head, commended the learners for their commitment and resilience.

He attributed the strong performance to student determination, teamwork among teachers, and solid administrative support.

“We are so glad and delighted with these results. This is not the end; we are expecting more to come. My appeal to parents across Garissa County is that we keep motivating our learners. Academics must remain key, and the fruits are very sweet,” he said.

Kiiru echoed growing concerns among parents, teachers, and guardians over the shortage of teachers in the region, warning that the success of the new curriculum depends heavily on adequate staffing.

“My appeal to the government is to address the issue of teacher scarcity, especially in North Eastern, where Garissa is part of. We might find situations where a teacher is handling many subjects because of the shortage. The government should consider North Eastern so that we have equitable distribution of teachers by 2026,” he said.

He also raised concerns about inadequate learning materials, noting that the practical nature of CBC demands more resources than schools currently have.

“CBC is supposed to be practical, but where are the materials? Some teachers are forced to walk into class with only soft copies because they lack the necessary resources,” he remarked.

Hassan Abdi, a parent at the school, also commended the government for the transition from KCPE to CBC, saying the system is more holistic and learner-friendly.

He, however, emphasised that sustained investment in teachers and learning materials is crucial for its success.

“There remains a very big gap in public schools as far as teachers are concerned. We have situations where a teacher is required to handle many subjects, including some they were not trained to teach. This is something the government needs to move with speed to address,” he said.