Education stakeholders and parents in Kiambu have lauded the Bill passed by the National Assembly that allow ranking of schools.
The parents said that the approval for ranking of schools is important in the education sector as it will encourage competition.
Speaking to this writer on Friday, the parents noted that ranking was important as it will also help the government monitor the performance of teachers and students.
“Re-introduction of school rankings in national examination is timely as it will provide an environment for competition among schools,” said Josephine Kinuthia, a lecture at a local university in Kiambu.
Ms Kinuthia noted that students were performing poorly after the government banned school ranking in 2014.
She noted that competition helps students to measure their strengths and perform better.
Ms Kinuthia noted that some of the reasons behind recent unrest in schools could be as a result of ranking.
“Students and teachers take pride when they are recognized for performing exemplary,” she noted.
John Mugo, an educationist says that ranking was necessary in the education sector. He observed that the sector had become dull after the government banned ranking.
He however called on the government to ensure that school ranking is done objectively.
On Wednesday, MPs approved the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Amendment Bill sponsored by Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa that allows re-introduction of school ranking.
According to Wamalwa school ranking will be based on performance in both national examinations and co-curricular activities.
He said ranking in will help gauge and monitor students and teachers performance.
Wamalwa added that ranking is in conformity with the right to information and will help the government and stakeholders identify areas of improvement.
School ranking was banned in 2014 by the then Education CS Jacob Kaimenyi on claims that it provided unfair competition and a platform for cheating.