1 March 2008
Nairobi — Central Kenya's academic giants stumbled as some of the former sleeping giants rose.
There were mixed reactions to the results. Winners danced and celebrated their performance. Fallen giants were baffled.
Nyeri and Murang'a high schools were the only institutions from Central Province that made it to the top 10 in the provincial category.
There were celebrations at Murang'a School - ranked 16 countrywide -- and Kagumo High Schools, 31. In past years, the two have been labelled sleeping giants of the region.
Murang'as performance was stunning. In 2006, the school was ranked 61 in the provincial category. In last year's exams, it was third in the same category.
Academic giants, Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls and Njiiris High School - the regions best performers in the 2006 examination - were re-assessing their performance after tables turned on them.
But in contrast, the mood at St Mary Secondary School, Nyeri High School, Meru School and Nguviu Boys was celebratory.
It was song and dance at St Mary, ranked 12 in the country, with a mean score 10.32. The students took their celebrations to Nyeri town streets after it emerged that they had beaten their perennial rivals Nyeri High and Ngandu Girls.
Nyeri High School Principal, Mr Lawrence Kiwara said: "It is by God's grace that the school has returned to its academic glory".
Kiwara, who was posted to the institution in 2000 from Gaichanjiru Boys, said hard work had paid off.
Nyeri High School principal Mr Samuel King'ori Nderitu attributed the good performance to teamwork, discipline and an environment that is free from political interference.
Students were, however, away on mid-term break.
There was little to celebrate at Bishop Gatimu Ngandu. The giants of yesteryears were ranked a distant 70 nationally. Until the Thursday results, the worst ranking was 31 in 2001.
Things were dull at one's shining star, Njiiri's High School. In 2006, the school was ranked third in the provincial category. This year, they did not make to the top 100 schools.
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My name is JACOB JOHN. I was a teacher at Nyeri High in January 1965. This was when the Christian Brothers managed the school. Bro. Osmond was the headmaster. There was the famous Bro Carlo there who did all mainetance work. My colleagues were Mr. MONGA, DANIEL KABUTHU, Mr Batista WAMBUGU ETC.amongst the Kenyan staff and Mr Koshy, Joe Human etc amongst the expatriate staff. I hope that some of them as well as some students whom I taught Physics and Mathematics at the Higher level remember me. I initiated Hockey at the school and we became a school with a very good Hockey team.
I was also one of those responsible for organising the first Science Fair at Nyeri High. One of those who won James WAITAKA later on went on to win at the National Championship.
Should anyone remember me, please leave a message. Thank you
Jacob John B Sc (Lond), Dip Ed, PhD, FBAC, MACE, JP