Kamukunji Secondary School celebrates historic milestone with female student's A- Grade
Hidaya Mohamed has been studying German language as she hopes to study aerospace engineering in Germany.
Joyous celebrations broke out at Kamukunji Secondary School as students and teachers gathered to honour Hidaya Mohamed, the school's first-ever recipient of an A- grade in last year's Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
The achievement, a milestone for the school, was met with pride and excitement as Hidaya's classmates lifted her in celebration, recognizing her hard work and determination.
Kamukunji Secondary School primarily serves students from informal settlements such as Majengo, Kitui Village, and Shauri Moyo. This achievement marked a turning point for the school, which had not previously seen a student achieve such high grades.
Students at Kamukunji Secondary School lift Hidaya Mohamed, the first ever female student from the school to achieve grade A-. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, Hidaya described the dedication and effort she put into her studies. Raised in Eastleigh by her mother, who single-handedly supported her education, Hidaya credited her success to her teachers and classmates. She emphasized their role in supporting her journey.
Joyful celebration at Kamukunji Secondary School as students and teachers marked a historic achievement—the school’s first-ever A- grade, earned by Hidaya Mohamed in last year’s KCSE exams. pic.twitter.com/GeRqYskWat
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) January 10, 2025
"I worked very hard, and I believe I deserved this grade," Hidaya said. "I also want to thank my teachers and fellow students for standing by me throughout my time at school."
Hidaya is now preparing for the next phase of her academic journey. Over the holidays, she has been taking German language classes, driven by her aspiration to study aerospace engineering abroad. She has set her sights on pursuing higher education in Germany.
"I want to study aerospace engineering because it has always been my dream," she explained. "I am currently learning German to make it easier for me once I get there."
Hidaya Mohamed, the first ever female student from the school to achieve grade A-. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
The school's principal, Mark Kariuki, expressed his happiness with the achievement, noting that it was a historic moment for Kamukunji Secondary School. He shared his optimism about the school's future performance and credited structural and administrative improvements for the success.
"This is the first time in our history that a girl will proceed to university," said Kariuki. "We are very proud as a school. We believe this success marks the beginning of better results in the future."
While speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, Hidaya Mohamed, the first-ever female student from Kamukunji Secondary School to achieve an A- grade, expressed her aspiration to pursue aerospace engineering in Germany.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) January 10, 2025
The Principal of the school Mark Kariuki attributed the milestone to… pic.twitter.com/PXOYVWiayb
Kariuki highlighted one of the school's unique strategies, which involves separate learning spaces for boys and girls. He noted that this arrangement has reduced distractions and motivated female students to excel, particularly in science subjects.
The principal also acknowledged the role played by local leaders in improving the school's infrastructure. He attributed some of the school's success to better facilities, which were constructed through the support of the area Member of Parliament, Yusuf Hassan.
"We now have proper classrooms, which have created an environment conducive to learning," he added.
The Principal of the school Mark Kariuki while speaking to The Eastleigh Voice. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
Kaspara Mukami, a member of the school's Board of Management and vice chair of the education department, praised the collaborative efforts between teachers and the board in ensuring academic success.
"We are happy with this result, as it reflects the teamwork between the Board of Management and the teachers," Mukami said. She also encouraged parents in the area to enrol their children at Kamukunji Secondary School, emphasising the school's quality infrastructure and dedicated teaching staff.
Hidaya's achievement comes amidst a broader trend of improved performance in public schools within the Kamukunji constituency during last year's KCSE exams.
Eastleigh High School recorded its top student achieving an A-. Zawadi Mixed Secondary School in Eastleigh South had a top grade of B, while St. Teresa's Boys produced a top grade of B+. Maina Wanjigi Secondary School and Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School each saw their top students attain B grades.
The collective improvement has boosted morale in public schools across the constituency.
Educators hope this trend will inspire students to aim higher in upcoming national examinations.
As for Hidaya, her success has become a source of inspiration for her peers at Kamukunji Secondary School. The school community remains hopeful that her journey will motivate other students to strive for excellence in their academic pursuits.
