Kenya’s number 1 student, Tom Wanderi King’ori (left), and principal Mr. David Gideon Kariuki, surrounded by other students from Alliance High School celebrate the school’s outstanding performance.

The Global Peace Foundation reported four high schools implementing the Foundation’s Character and Creativity Initiative (CCI) ranked among the top 10 in the nation. The results of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam were released on March 3, 2014 by the Kenya’s Ministry of Education. According to the Standard Digital, Alliance High School was ranked first.  Tom Wanderi King’ori, from Alliance High School, was Kenya’s highest ranking student. Mr. David Gideon, principal of Alliance High School, serves as a member of the CCI National Advisory Council. Remaining six CCI schools also ranked highly, with mean grades of B and above.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education is an examination for fourth form students prior to entry into higher education. Students are tested in several subjects ranging from English, Swahili, Mathematics, and History, to Agriculture, Music, and Business. Exams begin in October and conclude in December. The results determine the student’s eligibility for higher education.

The March results showed Alliance High as number 1 in the country with a mean of A – (81.783). Maryhill Girls High School ranked second highest girls school in Kenya with a mean grade of A- (76.826). Kenya High School ranked third highest with a mean of A- (76.030). Nairobi School was ninth strongest boys school with a mean of A- (75.6). Starehe Girls Centre was the ninth strongest girls school with a mean of B+ (73.418).

Prof. Jacob T. Kaimenyi, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology commented, “I am pleased with the work of Character and Creativity Initiative for their collaboration to increase collective impact in changing school culture for greater results,” according to the Global Peace Foundation story. He continued, “Culture drives excellence! The change of institutional culture of under-achievement and indiscipline in our institutions of learning is crucial in creating a transformative culture of ethics and excellence.”

The Character and Creativity Initiative strives for school wide cultural transformation to focus on nurturing ethics and creativity in high school youth. This is in line with providing twenty-first century employment skills. Last year the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) issued a 3 year evaluation of school performance factors that included academic performance, school climate, student and teacher satisfaction, and student discipline. The results showed marked improvement in all areas for CCI schools. Many CCI schools reported underachievement and discipline problems prior to implementing the program.

The Character and Creativity Program has expanded to Nigeria, Uganda, Paraguay, Brazil, Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Nairobi and Kiambu Counties in Kenya.

For the original story visit: www.globalpeace.org

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