How Maranda rose to the top

What you need to know:

Administrators say cooperation between teachers and students and finishing syllabus early is key to success

To many, the impressive performance by Maranda High School may come as a surprise, but to insiders, preparations to take the top crown have been meticulously honed over the years.

For the first time in history, the school situated in Nyanza’s Siaya County grabbed the first position nationally with 261 students having sat for the examinations.

It also topped the country in History and Biology. Last year it led in Kiswahili. But this has not always been the case.

It was an average performer in the 1980s and in 1989, for instance, it was ranked number 70. But last year, it was number four before taking the winner’s position this year in results released by Education Minister Sam Ongeri on Wednesday.

From a mean grade of 6.0 in 1989, the school has risen and risen to a mean of 10.557 in 2010 and 11.057 in the 2011 examinations.

Just what has led to the school’s improved performance over the years?

According to Maranda’s Head of Academic Affairs Saul Wera, the school has been tracking its performance and was keen on improving all weak areas detected in both national and local examinations.

“ Even last year, we put in a lot of effort to work on weaknesses detected during the previous examination results and were sure we were going to perform well. But we did not know that we would top the list,” Mr Wera said.

The principal, Mr Boaz Owino, attributed the school’s performance to the cooperation between the teachers, parents and the community, which, he said, had worked perfectly.

The school, according to Mr Owino, has put in place measures to ensure that the syllabus is completed in June of every year.

“Once the syllabus is complete, students are then given time to revise what they have been taught and strengthen their weak areas,” Mr  Wera added.

Students usually wake up early for morning preps and personal studies. They are also given time in the evening to revise. However, games are compulsory.

The school, he says, has ensured that the teachers and the students have a friendly working relationship. Students are thus able to talk to teachers freely and ask questions on areas they are not strong in.

The school has produced among others, the current Prime Minister Raila Odinga.