Arabuko Forest High School has once again secured its position as the leading school in Kilifi County, based on the recently released KCSE results. The Islamic boys’ high school, classified as an extra-county institution, outperformed the two national schools in Kilifi, namely Bahari Girls and Ribe Boys.
Arabuko Forest High School achieved a mean grade of 8.144 (B-), surpassing Bahari Girls with a mean grade of 7.69 (B-) and Ribe Boys with a mean grade of 6.79 (C+). The principal of Arabuko Forest High School, Alawi Rashid, proudly stated that 91 percent of the candidates from their school who took the exam are eligible for university admission. Out of the 97 students who sat for the exam, 88 are set to join university, reflecting the school’s commitment to academic excellence.
Principal Rashid attributed the school’s success to the collaborative efforts of teachers, parents, and students. Despite the achievements, he expressed disappointment in falling short of their targeted mean score of 9.2. Rashid acknowledged that the results seemed problematic as some expected top-performing students did not meet expectations, but he expressed gratitude for the overall success at the county level.
Bahari Girls, represented by Chief Principal Hamaro Sylvano, celebrated their best-ever results in the school’s history. Out of 259 candidates, 192 are eligible to pursue university education, surpassing their set target of 7.5 with a mean score of 7.6. Sylvano commended the remarkable achievement and emphasized the significance of these results for the school.
The top performer at Bahari Girls, Judith Mapenzi, who scored an A- with 80 points, shared her personal challenges, revealing the impact of her grandfather’s death two months before the exams. Despite the emotional setback, Mapenzi credited her teachers’ support and counseling for helping her overcome grief and excel in her studies. She aspires to become a neurosurgeon in the future.
Another high achiever, Jackline Kagendo, who scored an A- with 79 points, attributed her success to discipline and teamwork fostered within the school. Kagendo expressed her intention to leverage the discipline instilled in her education to pursue a career as a cardiologist.
