A number of South Sudanese learners living in Kapsoya estate on the outskirts of Eldoret City, Uasin Gishu County, have a reason to smile after emerging among the top performers in the recently released Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results.
At Precious Joy Academy in Eldoret, celebrations were held as learners, teachers, and parents gathered to celebrate outstanding performance, including a South Sudanese learner who scored Exceeding Expectations in all subjects.
Top KJSEA performers in Uasin Gishu County
One of the top performers, Chole Kuot, said the journey had not been easy after relocating from Sudan to Kenya.
“I started my education in Sudan, but when we came to Kenya I was forced to change the system and start afresh,” said Kuot.
“The education system in Kenya is a little more friendly compared to Sudan, but I did not expect to perform better than Kenyan learners who are already used to the system.”
Another student at the same school, Blessed Ajur, also posted impressive results, scoring Exceeding Expectations. She said her performance reflected her consistency in previous assessments.
“I want to continue with this system because I have been performing well in past exams,” she said. “I expected good results, but I am very happy that I did even better.”
The school management noted a steady increase in the number of learners from South Sudan, especially those residing in Kapsoya, and praised their academic discipline.
“We have seen an influx of learners from Sudan, and their performance has been exemplary,” said a school administrator. “However, we urge the government to be consistent in the provision of textbooks for the curriculum to support learning.”
Parents struggling to understand KJSEA results
While celebrating the results, some parents expressed concern over their understanding of the new education system.
“We are still confused about how the new system works because we have not been trained on it,” said one parent. “The government should give parents clear guidance on how to support their children.”
Among the top performers in Uasin Gishu County was Jhanelle Chepepchirchir Kili who was a student at St Joseph International Science School, formerly SOS Children’s Home.
Her parent acknowledged the challenge of understanding the new system despite good results.
“Up to now, we have not fully understood the new education system,” the parent said. “Even so, our children continue to perform well, and we are proud of them.”
The 15-year-old girl hopes to join Moi Girls High School Eldoret to pursue STEM-related courses.
“I would like to become a flying doctor,” she said.
The strong performance by Sudanese and Kenyan learners alike has highlighted both the success of integration in schools and the need for increased sensitization of parents on the Competency-Based Education (CBE).
