Kisii County deputy director of education Charles Nyaribo has said 32 students from Elimu Academy could join national schools.
Speaking to this writer on Sunday in Kisii town, Nyaribo who also doubles as Kisii Central Director for Education said the sub county alone could take more than 100 students to national schools.
He noted absenteeism and strikes among teachers caused dismal performance in public primary schools.
He warned teachers against recklessness and said those who would be found not taking their work serious will be punished.
“Private schools surpassed public schools in last year’s KCPE exams because of myriad issues experienced in public schools. As the minister for Education Fred Matiang’i said when he was releasing the exams that 70 percent of absenteeism cases contributed to dismal performance is not different in our County,” said the education official.
Obed Ndemo Oute emerged best by scoring 438 out of 500 marks while Joy Nyaitondi Omwansa, also the best girl in the county attained 430 marks.
Elimu Academy School broke its own record of 2014 KCPE exams from a mean score of 388.48 marks to an average of 414.12 marks in 2015's KCPE exams.
Out of 34 candidates who sat for the 2015 KCPE exams at Elimu Academy, 30 of them scored more than 400 marks with the last performer scoring 379 marks.
The school is situated along Kisii-Keroka highway, opposite Kereri girls’ high school about a Kilometer from Kisii CBD.
Precious Hope, also a private sponsored school followed Elimu Academy with an M.S.S of 406 marks. The leading candidate had 440 out of 500 marks.
Other schools in the county that recorded impressive performance include; Imperial Primary School at Nyamataro that attained an mean of 389.15 marks and its sister school, Set Green Hill Academy that scored an mean of 384.19 marks.
Moi Primary School, a public school, produced the best candidate, Finley Ogechi who scored 441 marks.
The school attained a mean score of 365 marks.
Nyakoe Highway Primary School attained a mean score of 352.87 up from 341 marks that it posted in the year 2014.
Among other public primary schools that Nyaribo said performed well were Kisii Campus and Kari Primary Schools.
Both schools are located within the Kisii Municipality.
He added: “The issue among other issues must be addressed to salvage public primary schools from poor performance.”
Precious Hope Semi Boarding school had 30 candidates with the leading one, Tom Ratemo scoring 440 marks becoming the second best student in the county.