Discipline bears academic excellence at Emusire High

Emusire High School, an extra-county boys school located in Vihiga county, has created a name for itself in the region after ranking third in the boys category and fifth in the county in past national exams.

Over the past five years, the school has recorded steady but improved academic performance. In last year’s KCSE, it recorded a positive deviation of 0.473, and a mean score of 7.567 (B-) up from the 7.094 recorded in 2023.

From the 179 students who sat last year’s exams, 134 students qualified for direct university admission, resulting in a 76% transition rate.

Senior Principal Musa Obura, who joined the school in 2023, has put in place a raft of measures aimed at propelling academic excellence in the school. Some of the measures include setting aside time every day for quality revision, and issuing out quick questions on random subjects during lunch break to jog students’ memories.

“Remedial Mathematics, Sciences and English lessons are taught daily in the evening from 6 pm to 7:20 pm, then the students are left to do their personal revision,” he said, further explaining that during the Maths remedial lessons held on Sunday evenings, students are given tests or engage in group work/guided revision.

Mr Obura added that the students have Chemistry and Physics practical sessions on Saturdays, and Biology practical sessions on Sunday.

“Topical revision from past KCSE papers helps candidates understand and have the concept and skills of answering questions well. It also helps them master the art of maintaining calm while answering KCSE questions,” he explained, noting further that the students are disciplined and can work hard and put efforts in their studies even in the absence of their teachers.

The senior principal added that the students also know how to balance time for revision and consultation, and that through grade mapping done in term one of form four, teachers are able to meet students and project their abilities.

“Both the students and teachers are highly motivated to achieve academic excellence. This year’s 205 candidates are working hard to surpass their target of 8.5. With support from all stakeholders, we’re confident of registering an even higher university transition rate,” Mr Obura said.

He added that the school holds academic clinics where parents are invited to discuss their children’s performance, resulting in improved performance once weak areas have been identified.

“Both the top students and the weak ones are rewarded to motivate them toward better performance,” he said, adding that teachers have time to bond with each other and are motivated to carry out their duties/responsibilities through incentives offered by the BoM and the Parents Association.

The five stream school has already adopted CBC across all three pathways. It boasts of a student population of 650, taught by 25 TSC teachers and 10 employed by the BoM.

“Through collaboration, the teachers analyze and discuss salient areas of importance, and use team teaching to exchange papers during marking/grading and guide students accordingly,” he noted.

On infrastructural development, the senior principal noted that the school is renovating and painting its buildings and gate, and adding terrazzo on the corridors.

He noted that the dining hall and boarding section, which were both constructed at the inception of the school, need to be renovated. The school also needs a new bus since its current one keeps breaking down during academic trips.

Another significant challenge the school has is fee payment. Most students come from humble backgrounds. Others are on non-functional scholarship programmes, like the Bungoma County sponsorship program which stopped with the transition of a new government.

“5 of our current candidates were on the Bungoma County Sponsorship program. From the time they were in form 2 to date, the school has been footing their fees, leading to more financial strain on our side. However, we’re encouraged by the fact that all the candidates have the potential of scoring grade A,” noted Mr Obura.

A powerhouse in co-curricular activities, the school’s drama, music, scouting, science engineering fair and debating/Amani club members all reach  nationals . The soccer team was the runners-up at the county level in 2023 boys’ soccer, securing a spot at the regionals. In hockey, rugby, indoor games and volleyball, the school competed and reached various categories. It recently introduced the chess club, and aims to participate in all competitions and do well.