Over 1,500 candidates in Laikipia fail to join secondary school

A total of 1,590 candidates who sat their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in Laikipia County have not joined secondary school.
Laikipia East Deputy County Commissioner, Esther Mwamure said that figures were disturbing adding that her office had tasked chiefs and their assistants to find out why the high numbers of candidates were yet to join form one despite the government’s commitment to ensuring 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school.
Ms. Mwamure noted that out of the 13,035 pupils who sat KCPE in 2018, only 11,465 had so far joined secondary with the rest yet to report to school despite having been admitted in various institutions.
Speaking Monday in Nanyuki town during the launch of the Laikipia County education strategic plan for 2018-2022, the DCC observed that majority of those yet to join form one were constrained by lack of fees, pregnancy and early marriages.
“We had a case of a bright girl who scored 401 marks in KCPE and was admitted in a good secondary school but the parents wanted to marry her off. The government took up the matter and I can now assure that the girl will continue her education,” the DCC said.
She noted that children who fail to join secondary school are married off as teenagers for girls, while the boys pick up herding livestock and eventually end up as cattle rustlers in most cases but warned that government would take stern action against any parent who failed to take their children to school.
Area governor, Ndiritu Muriithi who was the chief guest during the function said that there was need to address the low transition rate from primary to secondary school in the area which he termed as “worrying” further noting that it had contributed to the low literacy levels in the county.
“I want us to embrace technical education especially for our children who fail to join secondary school. This way we open up their brains to new ideas that will spur innovations.” Governor Ndiritu said.
Laikipia County Director of Education Ms. Susan Murerwa challenged parents and teachers to work hand in hand to improve education standards in the area which she said was below average.
In 2018 KCPE , our county had a mean grade of 239 marks out of 500 while in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education we managed 3.55 points out of a possible 12. One of our secondary school had a mean score of 1.5 point meaning all candidates failed.” Ms Murerwa said.
Segera ward MCA, Cherubo Kaparo called on the County government to immediately release funds meant for bursaries noting that lack of school fees by majority of parents was common in the area especially in pastoral zones of the County.
By Martin Munyi