Two high schools that failed to be ranked in 2012 due to cheating have bounced back and topped Siaya in the recently released KCSE results.
Sawagongo High School and Rang'ala Girls whose results were cancelled in 2012 have sprung back beating giant schools in Siaya
At Sawagongo, the then Gem DC Mr. Abdirzak Jaldesa who was the District Education Board chairman confirmed that there were problems after a student was found with a mobile phone in the exam room during the examinations.
At Rang'ala Girls, there was confusion as learning was paralyzed when the school failed to be ranked in that year’s KCSE results.
The then Ugunja DC Mr. Kipkech Lotiatia said the school was being suspected of having been involved in exam cheating.
However, this year, the two principals are walking with their heads high after their schools proved their worth in Siaya County.
In terms of mean scores, Sawagongo topped Siaya with 9.62 while Rang'ala girls had 8.2.
In 2011, Rang'ala girls had a sweet victory when it posted the best mean score of 9.6760 among girls' schools in Nyanza.
In the just released KCSE results by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, Maranda high school came third with 9.5, Rang'ala boys 8.1, Ramba boys and Maliera got 7.6 and 7.05 respectively.
This is no mean achievement as it has seen the schools outwitting regional giants and they are among institutions that pick among the top cream of students in the country.
The top student at Sawagongo, Michael Odhiambo Okech was equally happy after scoring a grade A of 81 points.
“I had a dream of becoming a doctor and would achieve it. Through hard work, resilience, determination and fear of God, have made it,” Odhiambo said.
"I attribute the performances to my mother who has supported me right from the day she brought me to Sawagongo.
"I was born and raised in Obunga slums and real-life situations in the area of residence made me work hard so as to help my parents live a better life and for sure the situation has not derailed my performance," he said.
Sawagongo Chief Principal Maurice Ogutu said they thank God for elevating the institution.
"We are delighted as Sawagongo fraternity to have attained a means core of 9.619,” Ogutu said, adding that the school had an A plain with 81 points, A-(63), B+(152), B (132), B-(34) and C+(4).
Ogutu confirmed that all the students will transit to the university.
“As teachers, we had a targeted mean score of 8.6 while students had theirs of 9.6 and they have worked and surpassed ours. It is our pride that 100 percent would transit to University. The previous year, 80 percent went to the University. This is something that we have been dreaming of for many years and we have finally achieved it," he said.
The school head attributed the exemplary performance to the hard work and commitment of teachers and students.
“The students were very disciplined, the lot would listen and follow instructions throughout the year. We never encountered any challenges while dealing with them, we could have done better in 2021 but the indiscipline that thrived cost us,” Ogutu said, adding that the class of 2021 went to an extent of burning the school generator.
