𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐓𝐞𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐂𝐒𝐄 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞

𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐓𝐞𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐣𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐂𝐒𝐄 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞

Kericho Tea Boys Secondary School has celebrated its golden jubilee with a thanksgiving ceremony, Annual General Meeting and alumni reunion, marking fifty years of shaping disciplined scholars and influential leaders while reaffirming the institution’s legacy as a centre of academic excellence and character development in the South Rift region.

The milestone celebrations brought together parents, alumni, education stakeholders, teachers and students who gathered to reflect on the school’s five-decade journey and celebrate its achievements in academics, leadership and community service.

The event also highlighted the institution’s impressive performance in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, a development that underscored the school’s consistent commitment to high academic standards.

Speaking during the celebrations, school Principal Wilson Samoei said the golden jubilee was not only a moment to celebrate the school’s history but also an opportunity to reflect on its growth and the progress made in providing quality education.

Samoei noted that the institution has continued to invest in academic improvement strategies aimed at equipping students with the knowledge, discipline and skills required to succeed in higher education and future careers.

“The golden jubilee is not just about celebrating fifty years of existence, but also about evaluating the progress we have made in delivering quality education and preparing our learners for the challenges of the future,” said Samoei.

He noted that the school recorded one of its strongest academic performances in the 2025 KCSE examinations.

A total of 255 candidates from Kericho Tea Boys Secondary School sat the national examinations and achieved a mean score of 7.67, representing a significant improvement compared to previous years.

According to the principal, the results demonstrate the impact of strengthened academic programmes, enhanced discipline among learners and the dedication of teachers in delivering quality instruction.

An analysis of the 2025 KCSE results shows that 229 students attained a C+ grade and above, the minimum university entry requirement in Kenya.

This means that nearly nine out of every ten candidates, representing approximately 90 percent of the total candidature, qualified for direct admission to university.

Samoei described the results as a major achievement for the institution, noting that the high transition rate to university reflects the effectiveness of the school’s academic strategies and support systems.

Only 26 candidates scored below C+, with 24 obtaining a C plain and two recording C minus.

Notably, no student scored below a C-, indicating a strong academic foundation among the entire class.

In an interview with the Kenya News Agency, the principal attributed the impressive performance to deliberate academic interventions and well-structured learning programmes.

He explained that the school has adopted data-driven strategies such as targeted remedial programmes, continuous assessment and teacher mentorship to help improve student performance.

“One of the major strategies we employ is ensuring that the syllabus is completed early, usually by the end of the first term. This allows the remaining two terms to focus on thorough revision and intensive examination practice,” he said.

Samoei added that students are exposed to numerous internal and external examinations designed to familiarize them with the format and expectations of the KCSE examination.

The strategy, he said, helps students build confidence and improve their performance in national examinations.

A review of the school’s academic performance over the past three years reveals steady and remarkable improvement.

The school recorded a mean score of 5.42 in 2023, which rose to 6.29 in 2024 before reaching 7.67 in 2025.

According to the principal, the steady growth reflects the success of ongoing academic reforms, improved teaching methodologies and increased student support programmes.

Similarly, the number of students qualifying for university admission has risen sharply over the same period.

In 2023, only 49 students attained the minimum university entry grade.

The number increased to 106 in 2024 and then rose dramatically to 229 students in 2025.

This represents an increase of 180 university qualifiers within three years, a development that the school administration described as a major academic milestone.

A detailed analysis of the 2025 KCSE results also revealed strong performance across several subjects.

Business Studies recorded the highest mean score at 11.29, followed by Agriculture with 9.63, Geography with 9.08, Biology at 8.37 and History at 8.26.

The results reflect strong performance across both science and humanities subjects, demonstrating the institution’s balanced curriculum and effective teaching strategies.

The performance in science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics also showed significant improvement compared to previous years, indicating the school’s growing focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

However, the results also revealed areas requiring improvement.

Computer Studies and Kiswahili recorded slight declines while Agriculture registered a marginal drop compared to the previous year.

Samoei acknowledged the need to strengthen teaching strategies in these subjects through targeted academic interventions.

Despite the challenges, he emphasized that the school remains committed to continuous improvement through academic planning, teacher collaboration and strengthened mentorship programmes.

Beyond academics, the golden jubilee celebrations also featured an alumni engagement forum where former students returned to interact with learners and share their experiences.

The alumni encouraged students to remain focused on their studies while also exploring diverse career opportunities.

Among the alumni present was entrepreneur Evans Terer, who completed his secondary education at the institution in 2017.

Terer later pursued higher education at Laikipia University and graduated in 2022 before venturing into business.

He is currently the founder and director of Orbitol Group, a company involved in labour export and tea trade to Gulf countries.

Speaking during the event, Terer credited Kericho Tea Boys Secondary School for shaping his entrepreneurial journey.

He said the discipline, mentorship and knowledge he acquired while at the institution played a key role in preparing him for the challenges of the business world.

Terer revealed that his company has already employed several alumni from the institution and encouraged current students to pursue both academic and technical career pathways.

He urged students who may not secure direct university admission to consider vocational and technical training opportunities, noting that global labour markets increasingly demand individuals with specialized skills.

Looking ahead, the school administration expressed optimism about sustaining its positive academic trajectory.

The principal revealed that 292 candidates are currently preparing to sit the 2026 KCSE examinations.

He said the institution is targeting a mean score of 8.5 and above in the upcoming examinations.

Samoei noted that strategies already in place, including early syllabus coverage, structured revision programmes and continuous assessment, are expected to further improve academic outcomes.

He also called on parents to remain actively involved in their children’s academic and moral development.

According to him, strong collaboration between parents and schools plays a crucial role in nurturing responsible and disciplined learners.

“Parents must remain closely involved in the upbringing of their children because discipline begins at home. When families work together with schools, we are able to mould a generation capable of contributing positively to society,” he said.

As Kericho Tea Boys Secondary School celebrates fifty years of educational service, the golden jubilee not only honoured its rich history but also reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence, holistic education and the continued production of graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.