GIRLS’ “CANED” BOYS IN GARISSA COUNTY

BY ADOW JUBAT

                         What boys can do Ibtisaam can do better. Pics by Abdimalik Hajjir

Ibtisaam Mohamud Shurei toppled traditions in K.C.P.E results in North-Eastern region; by beating boys hands down and emerging the best candidate in Garissa County, in the last year’s nation primary test.

The 14 years slander girl, whose name means to smile in Arabic put her name literally into its meaning and made her family, teachers and schoolmate smile big, after scoring 426 out of the possible 500 marks in K.C.P.E. examinations.

The minor who is eloquent speaker, but extremely with hare shyness, said her starling performance in the national test, were driven by her aspirations to become a doctor, a profession she says took her attention after seeing the suffering patients in the region, were undergoing to get attention of a medical doctor.

“One day I went to a local public hospital with a sick relative, considering the pains my relative was undergoing, I though she will be admitted and treated forthwith, but she was given an appointment to come a week later since there was one doctor to handle her medical needs and the only doctor’s in-try was engage up to her appointment date”,

She added” When I got home, I ask myself, how I can address this problem facing my people at my person level. The answer, I got was to excel in school and since then I never look back”,

She adds “I want to do medicine so that I can improve the derailing health sector of my county and by extension my country. It not right that people always complain of shortage of doctors and children who were given the golden chance to go to school by their parents were not focused”,

She said her performance, which made her led in Garissa County by beating boys, is an indication that girls can do better than boys, if given the chance and time to revise while at home. “I appreciate my parents who gave me this noble opportunity to go to school, while many of my colleagues (girls) were denied schooling by their parents because of their gender”, She added while speaking in impeccable English.

 She said she was expected to perform well in the examination, but she never fathomed to wrestle boys and emerge the best candidate in the County. “It is the tradition here, girls names are looked from the bottom of the candidates names, but this time thing were different girls were on top and I thank Allah for making me among the best performer in the national exam”,

Speaking to Frontier Leaks at her former Young Muslim Primary school compound the visibly exuberant girl attributed her success to her parents and teachers who she said have stood by her during her primary education journey. “I thank my parents I never missed class because I was sent to fetch water or firewood like other girls. I thank my teachers, who sacrificed their time to teach us properly”, she says.

“Am more than happy today because my expectation and prayers have been finally answered, I will soon join my dream high school - Alliance Girls secondary school and afterward pursue a career in medicine to become Dr. Ibtisaam God willing,” She added while flunked by her teachers and her fellow school mate.

The girl according to the school manager has been leading in her class since her lower primary and has been extremely self disciplined.

Earlier on pupils from the school took to the street celebrating the performance of the girls, while aboard the school’s bus they shouted ‘sio uchawi tumezoea, (it’s not witch craft we are used to performing well).

Girls from the county have exemplary performed well in last year s’ national examinations compared to previous years where boys dominated top positions.

Young Muslim Primary manager Mohamed Hailow said 23 out 65 candidates were girls and they have exemplary performed well compared with their boys counter parts.

He said the school has invested in highly dedicated teachers who have tirelessly worked towards the success of the pupils in the school.

“We are proud to have performed well, this has not come to us as a surprise because we have worked hard for it and more so we made parents to assist us by ensuring the do follow up of the progress of their children,” he said.

Speaking to Frontier Leaks separately the uncle of the Ibtisam, Mohamed Dek of the famous Dek Express said parent shouldn’t discriminate their children in the basis of gender and instead educate their children equally as girls has shown they can do better if given the opportunity.

Dek said parents have ultimate goal to instill discipline and to make sure their children get good grades that enables them to join secondary.

Hanan Mohamud a female candidate was also leading at her Mnara School.