Kereri Girls High School principal Esther Ong’ondi’s future is uncertain following a record low performance in 2015 Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education results, reveals a senior Board of Management member.
The once academic powerhouse has been in a major decline in recent years, and only managed to record a mean grade of 8.191 in 2015 KCSE, a result that has not been received well by the management board.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the weight of the matter, said BOM had identified Sironga High School’s Helen Mabese as her replacement.
“A number of Board of Management member are now fed up with dismal performances. We cannot allow this to continue anymore because we are losing to minor schools. I can guarantee you that her fate is determined because many of us want Helen (Mabese) to take over,” said the official.
The BOM member revealed that discussions on Ongondi’s replacement had started mid last year, and they had made ‘tremendous’ steps in securing the services of Mabese, who currently heads Sironga High School from Nyamira.
“The matter will be settled soon because we have made tremendous steps in securing her (Mabese) services. We have agreed to work with our school. We only want change of guard because the current head has been given humble time but we haven’t realized any change,” added the official.
The official hailed Mabese, saying her track record was excellent and was the only hope to change the dwindling fortunes of the institution.
“This isn’t the first time we are trying to secure Mabese. Her track record in Nyaikuro, Mwongori and now Sironga is excellent. We needed her services and that is just a matter of days or few months,” the source said.
Mabese’s Sironga High managed a mean grade of 9.7, finishing fourth behind Nyambaria, Kisii School and Ichuni Girls respectively.
Efforts to reach Ongondi for comment were futile since the institution’s gates remained locked for the better part of Thursday and the school guard indicated that he was under instruction not to allow any ‘stranger’ to the school compound.