1 March 2008
Nairobi — Schools in Nyanza Province posted improved performance in last year's secondary schools national exams. Among the 10 improved schools nationwide, Nyanza had five. Twenty-six schools from the region were ranked in the top 100 district schools while 19 were in the top 100 in the provincial category.
According to Provincial Director of Education, Mr Geoffrey Cherongis 116 students got grade 'A' aggregate. This was 12 more than in 2006.
Maseno School maintained its lead in the province. It was ranked 11 nationwide and produced the best student in the region.
The second best student came from Kanga High School. For the first time, Kisumu Boys made a mark by producing the fifth overall student in the region.
The PDE attributed the good performance to commitment by teachers, students, parents and local leaders.
He, however, said the schools lacked enough facilities and teachers.
Cherongis said there is a shortage of teachers since many were displaced in post-election violence. But he said the Government was addressing the shortage.
Meanwhile, the province's top student, Master George Omenda is also a great sportsman.
He was one of the best basketball players in western Kenya and represented the school in local and international derbies. He was also a prefect in charge of academics at he school.
Maseno School deputy principal, Mr Duncan Owiye said Omenda was a good student.
"We are excited but not surprised that Omenda is the top student in the province he was a level headed student who maintained the top slot in his class," Owiye said.
In the same region, an orphan was among the top performers.
Master James Opondo Abuogo of Kisumu Boys High School was ranked fifth in the top 100 in the district.
He got 86.6 points. The Saturday Standard broke the news to him.
"Is it true? Am happy. I cannot believe it. What you are telling me sounds too good to be true," Abuogo said, at their home in Mamboleo, Kisumu.
Abuogo, 18, was slashing grass outside his grandmother's house when The Saturday Standard broke the news too him yesterday.
He said he wants to be a surgeon and hopes to join University of Nairobi's Faculty of Medicine.
He said hard work and strong belief in God were the key pillars for his success, adding that his relatives saw him through his secondary education.
"Life has been very difficult after I lost my father in 2000 and mother in 2006," he said.
He says he rode a bicycle to and from school every day four years.
The second born in a family of six did odd jobs like cutting grass for Sh100 a day at homes during weekends to supplement the family's income.
Abuogo's, grandmother, Mrs Joanne Teti, 80, said she was delighted by her grandson's performance.
The boy, who is football fan, said his role model is former South Africa President, Mr Nelson Mandela.
"He was not greedy for power. He is also very humble," said Abuogo.
Peter Atsiaya and Harold Ayodo
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