By LUCAS BARASA
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Leaders in Mandera have decried the County's poor performance in the 2012 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.
Mandera was ranked last among the 47 counties in the results released on Monday.
On Thursday, leaders in Mandera led by gubernatorial aspirant Ali Roba expressed concern over the dismal performance and accused area leaders of doing little to address the situation.
Mr Roba told a meeting in Mandera Town that everything should be done to reverse the situation and ensure the county competed effectively with others in national examinations.
“We are concerned and saddened by the poor performance of county in both primary and secondary level examinations. It is a pity that past leaders did little to improve the situation,” Mr Roba said.
Mr Roba, who is vying on a URP ticket, attributed the poor performance to inadequate teachers and facilities.
He vowed to ensure more teachers were recruited even if it means using the county government resources and that schools were well equipped.
“At the moment, some schools with as much as 400 pupils have only two teachers,” Mr Roba said.
The candidate said most teachers from outside the county decline deployment to Mandera due to harsh conditions.
Education standards were also affected by frequent movement of pastoralist communities in Mandera in search of water and pasture for their livestock.
Mr Roba promised to establish housing projects in nomadic areas for teachers and families to live and avoid frequent movement.
He said he would also erect solar systems in all schools.
“Our schools lack teachers for specific subjects. Some with as many as 400 pupils only have one or two teachers. We will ensure there are teachers in remote localities. I will strive to address the shortages also ensure the schools have facilities,” Mr Roba said.
In KCPE results released on Monday, Mandera County was ranked last in the country with a mean score of 182 behind table topping Kirinyaga with a mean score of 273.
Mandera’s worst school, Sala Primary, could only manage a mean score of 120 out of 500 marks.
This is not the first time Mandera has performed poorly and there are many causes. They include inadequate schools, staffing and equipment, the nomadic nature of the people and poverty. Yet improvement of education does not even rank high up in the priorities of those seeking elective positions here.
Source: Daily Nation