- 351 candidates out of the 450 who sat for the examinations have qualified to join the University.
- The school registered a mean score of 7.93 improving from 7.61 scored in 2022.
Thika High School on Tuesday celebrated its sterling performance in the 2023 KCSE examinations as 350 out of 450 candidates qualified to join the university.
Image: JOHN KAMAU
Thika High School in Kiambu County has reclaimed its lost glory by registering a sterling performance in last year's Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
351 candidates out of the 450 who sat for the examinations have qualified to join the University.
The school registered a mean score of 7.93 improving from 7.61 scored in 2022.
Four candidates scored A plain, 28 got A-, 69 boys scored B plus, 79 B stand, 87 B-, 84 C plus, 51 C stand, 33 C minus, and 11 D plus while four candidates scored D stand.
The school's senior Principal Julius Muraya attributed the outstanding performance to hard work and commitment by both the candidates and the teaching staff.
"We have managed to take 351 candidates to University and this is the biggest number of candidates that have managed to qualify for the higher learning institutions at a go. Hardwork and resilience by our boys has paid," Muraya said.
He noted that the school, which was established in 1956 by the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Africa (PCEA), has been an academic giant despite facing turbulence through the years.
The principal said that the school has produced high-ranking personalities, individuals of substance and people who hold high offices in diverse fields citing the current Public Service Cabinet Secretary and former Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.
Muraya divulged that the school endeavors to provide access to quality education adding that the school has recently experienced a surge in students' population.
"Our population has been growing immensely in the last few years. This year [2024] we have some 482 candidates who will sit for their examinations and we hope they will record better results than this year's," Muraya said.
He however revealed that the school is grappling with some challenges including inadequate infrastructure to conveniently handle the population calling on the Government to establish more schools in the region to ease the congestion.
He noted that the school is set to admit some 500 form ones.
"We are however grateful for the support we have been receiving from our parents and even our sponsor, the PCEA Church," he said.
Clinton Mugama who scored a straight A hailed the support of his teachers and moral support from his parents as the force behind his performance.
Mugama said that he looks forward to studying aviation and fulfilling his dreams of becoming a pilot.
At Thika Girls Karibaribi, the Principal, Faith Wawira said despite the school being six years old, it has over 1,000 students, adding that they sometimes get overwhelmed by the huge population.
“Last year, we converted our dining hall into a dormitory and the boardroom into a classroom to address the influx of students. However, we are slowly addressing the issue and hope the government will help in addressing infrastructural challenges in the school,” Wawira said.
The school Board Member Francis Kuria called on the government to consider constructing new schools in the area to reduce the congestion in local schools.
Karibaribi Elizabeth Wangare of Thika Girls led with an A minus.
She attributed her performance to hard work and dedication.
Wangare an Equity Bank Wings to Fly Scholarship beneficiary looks forward to pursuing Medicine to save lives.
Nancy Njoki, Wangare’s mother could not hide her joy after her daughter’s performance saying despite the challenges of singlehandedly educating her seven siblings, she has hope that her daughter will uplift the family.