BY SHABAN OMAR
Matuga Girls National School in Kwale County has reclaimed its former glory by achieving exceptional results in the just-released 2024 KCSE examinations.
The school produced a single A plain, saving the county from shame, and outperformed Kwale High School, another national school within the county.
Matuga Girls posted remarkable results, including 6 A-, 25 B+, 45 B, 85 B-, 68 C+, 51 C, 33 C-, 11 D+, and 2 Ds, culminating in a mean score of 7.37.
The top grade was posted by Ndanu Hellen, an 18-year-old student from Mombasa County, who earned the school’s only A plain.
She was closely followed by Melyne Achieng’, one of the six students who achieved an A-.
Despite Kwale High School producing slightly higher grades, including 5 A-, 17 B+, 38 B, 76 B-, 50 C+, 35 C, 9 C-, 1 D+, and 1 D, with a mean score of 7.69, Matuga Girls’ single A plain and overall strong performance have won the admiration of many.
The production of a single A by a girl from Matuga Girls has positioned the school as a leading institution in the region, a testament to its commitment to academic excellence.
For years, Matuga Girls and Kwale High School have been locked in a tight academic rivalry, consistently vying for the top spot and serving as the pride and hope of Kwale County.
The region has been performing poorly in KCSE national examinations since 2016 with most of the schools failing to get As.
Last year, Kwale High School emerged victorious in the academic rivalry, outperforming Matuga Girls and cementing its position as the academic giant of Kwale County.
However, with the latest KCSE results, Matuga Girls has staged an impressive comeback, reclaiming its stature as a top institution in the region.
Speaking at Matuga Girls National School, the principal, Carolyne Zawadi Nguma, attributed the institution’s impressive performance to the dedication and cooperation among teachers, students, and parents. 
She said that teamwork has been instrumental in creating a conducive environment for academic success, enabling the school to reclaim its status as a top-performing institution in Kwale.
Nguma also praised the students for their unwavering dedication adding that their hard work and commitment led to bringing glory to the school and joy to their parents.
She commended the students for maintaining high levels of discipline and focus throughout their studies, which played a crucial role in achieving such great results.
“Both teachers and parents did their best, something that is remarkable,” Nguma said.
She said that the school was able to complete the syllabus early, which allowed ample time for thorough revision and preparation for the exams.
Nguma expressed confidence that the school would continue to produce outstanding results in the coming years, with even greater academic achievements anticipated.
The Deputy Principal Winnie Goa also expressed strong confidence that the school will become the “pearl” of the Coast region.
She said that the institution is aiming higher and working diligently to fulfill its ambitious goals.
The Deputy Principal assured that more A grades will be achieved in the future, and the school will remain unbeaten in academic excellence.
A parent, Erick Chai, congratulated the school management for the impressive grades, praising their efforts in shaping the success of the students.
He acknowledged that the teachers have been providing excellent care and support to the students, ensuring that learning remains the top priority.
Chai said the school has shown great dedication in fostering an environment where academic excellence can thrive.
