KISUMU, Kenya, Jan 11 – A Siaya student, Gloria Adhiambo Owino, who had initially admitted to Lenana Boys’ High School mistakenly, has received an offer to Ng’iya Girls High School after social media uproar.
Gloria Adhiambo Owino had excelled as the top student at Nyalgunga Primary School in Alego Usonga Sub County. However, an administrative error resulted in her being placed in the wrong school.
The issue gained attention after it was reported in the media, prompting swift action. County Director of Education, Mbugua Kabaki, confirmed on Thursday that the girl has been successfully placed in Ng’iya Girls High School, which is also a National School.
Adhiambo had originally aspired to attend Alliance, Kisumu, or Starehe Girls Schools, but the placement error dashed her hopes.
Kabaki acknowledged the error, expressing regret for the situation but assuring that it had been rectified. He initially described it as a minor error that would be corrected.
The 14-year-old Adhiambo had achieved an impressive score of 389 points in the KCPE exams, which warranted her placement in a national school.
Reflecting on her experience, Adhiambo expressed her initial confusion upon receiving a calling letter for Lenana Boys School, a boys’ institution. She had expected a placement in a girls’ school and had placed three school choices in her application.
As the start of the secondary school term approaches, Adhiambo and her family had been left in a difficult situation, unable to proceed with the enrollment process.
Now, with her corrected placement, Adhiambo’s focus is on joining Kisumu Girls High School, although she faces the challenge of school fees.
Her mother, Margaret Awuor, explained their financial constraints, saying, “We are unable to sustain payments of school fees in a national school.” Their attempts to secure a scholarship, including applications to banking institutions, had been unsuccessful.
Adhiambo has appealed for support from local leaders and well-wishers to enable her to pursue her education without interruption.
