Border schools beat the odds as Lafey posts stellar exam results

Against a backdrop of insecurity, teacher shortages and life along a volatile border, Lafey Secondary schools in Mandera County, delivered outstanding academic performance, defying expectations and outperforming long-established institutions in the region.

Lafey Boys Secondary School, located just kilometres from the Kenya–Somalia border, emerged as one of the county’s top performers despite operating in an environment shaped by past militant attacks, staffing challenges and the complexities of a porous frontier.

The school which draws students from diverse backgrounds in an area that has for years struggled with instability.

Yet, according to Principal Abdi Abdirahman, discipline has remained the cornerstone of the school’s success.

“Discipline is paramount in our school. We peg our academic performance on this beacon because that is the only way,” he said, noting that all students sign a discipline code on their first day of admission in the presence of a parent or guardian.

Mandera County continues to grapple with a teacher shortage following the 2016 exodus of non-local teachers, but Lafey Boys has sought to maximize available resources.

“Out of twenty teachers available at the school, only thirteen are employed by the government through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) while thirteen are hired by the school board,” the school Principal revealed.

Security concerns have also been a persistent challenge, with Al-Shabaab militants previously operating from across the border, barely a kilometer away.

“Security situation is improving unlike before when the roads were impassable, the school environment is secure,” Abdirahman said.

Between 2013 and 2021, the area experienced deadly attacks, abductions and destruction of infrastructure, but the principal noted that non-local teachers have since returned as stability improves.

Despite these obstacles, Lafey Boys delivered a remarkable performance, outperforming established schools such as Mandera Secondary School, Sheikh Ali and Moi Girls.

“We managed a mean score of 9.1 points giving a mean grade of B plain with 183 candidates,” Abdirahman said.

The results included seven A minus grades, 84 B plus, 79 B plain, 23 B minus, eight C plus and two C plain grades.

The school has also adopted strict language policies aimed at promoting inclusivity and academic competitiveness.

“We have banned use of local languages while in school compound because we wanted to have an equal ground for all students,” Abdirahman said.

Hussein Abdi Abdullahi, the top student in Mandera County from Lafey Boys, attributed his success to discipline and teacher support.

“We have the best teaching staff that is listening and ready to support learning. Our school environment is challenging but our teachers remained supportive,” he said.

Abdullahi hopes to pursue a medical course at university and return home to serve his community.

Just next door, Lafey Girls Secondary School also recorded impressive results, underscoring how schools in the region are overcoming adversity through innovation and teamwork.

With only ten teachers serving 78 students, Lafey Girls posted a mean grade of B plus at 9.5 points.

“We are three TSC teachers and seven others engaged by the school board but are a team that is focused on ensuring the girl-child is educated in Mandera,” said Principal Halima Musa.

The school recorded ten A minus grades, 29 B plus, 31 B plain, six B minus and two C plus grades.

Musa attributed the success to structured peer learning and extended study hours.

“The secret has been groupwork, early morning and evening preps in our school,” she said. “We have these students in groups where they help each other in the areas of their academic journey.”

She emphasized that peer-to-peer teaching has been critical in uplifting weaker students.

“Our secret is peer to peer teaching in our school. We have no option but to go this way to achieve better results,” she said.

Despite the achievements, challenges persist, including inadequate facilities, staff shortages and cases of teenage pregnancy.

“We are challenged with our girls getting pregnant and dropping out of school along the way. We have some who return to complete their studies while others varnish completely,” she said.

Still, Musa remains optimistic, insisting that with sustained support, girls in Mandera can compete nationally.

She says girls in Mandera have the potential of making a mark in the academic arena if well supported.