Private schools outshine public counterparts in Garissa

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Private schools in Garissa County have once again outperformed public institutions in the recently released KCSE results, continuing a trend that has persisted over the years.

Unlike previous years, when celebrations were evenly spread, this year saw muted reactions in major public schools across the county, while private institutions burst into jubilation, with students jamming the streets in celebration of their impressive performance.

At Al-Azhar Senior School, celebrations erupted shortly after the results were announced, with students dancing and chanting after the school posted stellar grades.

Notably, all candidates from the school attained the minimum university entry grade, marking a significant milestone.

One of the candidates, Anis Osman Ahmed, who scored a B+, attributed his success to hard work and collective support.

“This achievement was a result of dedication, guidance, and unwavering support from my parents, teachers, and fellow students,” he said.

A teacher at the institution, James Ondiko, thanked the entire school fraternity for working together, noting that the results were a true reflection of their commitment.

“On behalf of the Al-Azhar fraternity, we are so happy with the results that have come. It is through God’s grace that we were able to get one A-, and more than 219 students are going to the university. It is not by anything else but by God’s grace and hard work,” Ondiko said.

He added that the success was a result of relentless effort.

“The Al-Azhar fraternity has not been sleeping but working hard through endless nights. We are now here, and God has seen us through,” he added.

Among the top performers was Rawdha Alinoor Hassan from Mwangaza High School, who scored an A-, placing her among the leading candidates in the North Eastern region.

She thanked her teachers, parents, and the entire school fraternity for their unwavering support, noting that her success required immense sacrifice.

Rawdha revealed that she intends to pursue medicine at the university.

“It has always been my dream to pursue this particular course because, as a region, we have a shortage of doctors. My dream has always been to give back to society, and what better way to do that than by taking care of the health of our people,” she said.

Selina Chembeni, a teacher at Mwangaza, said the strong performance did not come as a surprise, citing consistency and discipline.

“Our learners have been very disciplined throughout. That is how we have moulded them. We have also taught them to be consistent in whatever they do, and that is how we have been achieving good grades,” she said.

She attributed the continued success to cooperation among parents, teachers, and students.

Meanwhile, Feisal Abdinoor, the top student at Garissa Progressive High School, scored an A- and credited his achievement to discipline and humility.

“I want to tell Form Three and Form Four students to always remember where they come from. Trust the process and, above all, burn the midnight oil because, honestly, success does not come easy,” Abdinoor said.

The results once again highlight the growing performance gap between private and public schools in Garissa County, raising questions about resources, management, and learning environments in public institutions.