Mukumu Boys Principal Promises Improved KCSE Performance, Calls for Support

By Strilus Bellbut 

As schools across the country continue to register candidates for the 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) for Grade 9 students and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, Mukumu Boys High School Principal Sylvester Ashioya is assuring parents of better results for their children.

Speaking with Story Spotlight News, Mr. Ashioya admitted that while the school did not meet its performance target last year, measures are in place to achieve excellence in 2025.

“Our target for the 2024 KCSE was a mean score of 8.75, but we managed 6.30. Despite that, 192 students out of 467 scored a C+ and above, qualifying for direct university entry,” he said.

“This year, we’ve set a mean score target of 8.85, and we’re doing everything possible to ensure we achieve it.”

Mr. Ashioya attributed much of the school’s success to close collaboration with parents and stakeholders. He urged parents to remain engaged with the school, explaining that this partnership is critical to achieving academic goals.

Drawing from his experience at other schools, including St. Teresa’s Itete Secondary School in Matungu Sub-County, he explained how such collaboration has produced excellent results.

Under his leadership, St. Teresa’s became one of the best-performing schools in the district, with his former deputy earning a promotion to Chief Principal at Namberekea Secondary School.

“At Mukumu Boys, we’ve built strong partnerships with stakeholders, including our PTA Chairperson, Mr. Simon Busolo, and the Kakamega Catholic Diocese under Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe. Their support has been key in driving our achievements,” he said.

Despite these achievements, challenges remain, particularly the shortage of teachers. Mr. Ashioya appealed to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to assign more staff to the school, noting that the financial burden of paying teachers hired by the school’s board of management is unsustainable.

“The registration of students for this year’s exams is ongoing, and interviews for new admissions are underway. However, we urgently need more teachers. The workload on the current staff is heavy, and the financial strain on the school is overwhelming. I appeal to the government for support,” he said.

Discipline, he emphasized, remains the foundation of academic success. He called on parents to work with the school administration to ensure that students follow school rules, saying that even the brightest students cannot succeed without discipline.

“A school can only perform well when there is discipline. It doesn’t matter how intelligent a student is—without discipline, their potential will be wasted,” he remarked.

Since taking over at Mukumu Boys in 2019, Mr. Ashioya has overseen steady progress, with the school consistently ranking among the top performers in Shinyalu Sub-County. He remains confident that his team’s dedication and the support of parents will result in even greater success.

“Our mission is to continue achieving excellence. With everyone working together, I am confident that we will meet our 2025 KCSE target and secure a bright future for our learners,” he concluded.