Top KCPE candidate used to study website development at university

Norah Aluku, who scored 423 marks in the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examinations had enrolled for an online course on website development for teenagers at Strathmore University.

Speaking to Parents magazine, Norah’s dad, Norbert Aluku revealed that he enrolled her on the course after noticing her interest in working on computers during her free time.

“You will always find her trying to learn about computer programs and computer programming,” Norbert said.‌‌

Norbert also revealed that he played a role in his daughter’s excellent performance by supporting her academically and socially. The eloquent dad who was elated at his daughter’s performance said apart from her interest in computers, Norah enjoys swimming which he encouraged alongside other activities that she loves like reading novels, in both English and Kiswahili languages.

Norah, whose dad describes as performance-oriented, received her grades with excitement and looks forward to joining Maryhill secondary school. She was a pupil at Good Testimony Junior school, in Nyayo Embakasi, Nairobi.

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Overall improvement in KCPE results

‌‌Over 1.2 million candidates wrote 2021 KCPE examinations, with Magata Bruce Mackenzie from Gilgil Hills Academy being the overall top candidate with 428 marks.

‌‌‌‌While releasing the results on Monday, March 28, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha, said that despite the decrease from the 433 marks scored by the top candidates in the 2020 KCPE results, the 2021 KCPE results recorded an overall performance improvement compared to the 2020 KCPE results.

“I am happy to announce that six papers recorded improved performance in the year 2021 as compared to 2020. These are English composition, Kiswahili lugha, Kiswahili Insha, Kenya Sign language composition, Science and Social Studies,” said CS Magoha.

Education CS Prof. George Magoha

‌‌2021 KCPE examinations recorded a decrease in the number of counties that registered more female candidates than their male counterparts compared to 2020. Unlike in 2020 when 20 counties recorded more girls, 2021 only had 12 counties which are, Mombasa, Meru, Isiolo, TharakaNithi, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Kisumu, and Siaya.

‌‌In matters of subject performance, English language and religious subjects recorded top performance compared to 2020. However, 2021 candidates have also recorded an improvement in other subjects.

‌‌In the same breath, candidates with special needs have improved in the 2021 KCPE results compared to 2020.

Education CS also said that the number of candidates who were absent in the 2021 KCPE examinations also reduced from 12, 424 recorded in the previous year to 11, 500.

At the same time, Prof. Magoha warned school headteachers, both in public and private schools from withholding KCPE examination results slips of candidates who have school fees arrears.

‌‌”It is our tradition that the KCPE examination results be collected by respective schools from sub-county education offices. Candidates should therefore collect their result slips from their respective examination centers and let me warn the headteachers both public and private this is a Kenyan government examination, you shall give the candidate his or her results so that I don’t have people coming to my office,” warned CS Magoha.‌‌

Candidates who have complaints to raise in regards to their results have 30 days to do so through Kenya National Examination Council.

Featured photo: Norah Aluku and her dad, Nobert/Courtesy: Norbert Aluku