By James Okoth
In a debut that has left educators, parents and stakeholders in awe, Dr. Idda Odinga Girls’ Secondary School, Asango, has secured a remarkable mean score of 7.096 in the 2025 KCSE. For a school making its first appearance in national exams, this achievement signals the rise of a new academic powerhouse in Ugunja.
According to Principal Nelly M. Otieno, the success is a product of careful planning, teamwork, and student commitment.
“We were only two TSC teachers in 2023. By early 2024, we had five, which greatly boosted the school. Together with the BoM teachers, we started on the form one syllabus from scratch because the foundation was shaky. The girls were extremely cooperative and worked closely with the teachers, who were dedicated beyond measure,” she said.
The results are even more impressive given the context. Starting with just two TSC teachers, the school faced gaps in teaching experience and academic foundations. Yet through strong leadership and collaboration between TSC and BoM teachers, students were guided to perform exceptionally well.
Infrastructure has also played a key role. The Ugunja CDF has already supported the school with 21 classrooms, a dormitory, a dining hall and teachers’ quarters, creating an environment that allows students to focus on learning and growth.
Looking ahead, Principal Otieno has outlined a clear wishlist for the school’s next phase of growth. Her top priorities include more dormitories to accommodate the growing student population, a fully equipped library to enhance learning resources and additional teachers’ quarters to attract and retain dedicated staff. She emphasized that these developments are crucial and hopes the CDF’s office will act quickly to make them a reality.
The 2025 performance also highlights that a new school, with strong leadership, committed staff and supportive infrastructure, can compete with established institutions. Collaboration between teachers and students proved critical in achieving this milestone.
Principal Otieno remains ambitious.
“We have a bigger candidature this year and we are working to achieve a mean of 7.5, which is realistic,” she said. This demonstrates a culture of continuous improvement, where success is a stepping stone to even higher standards.
The girls of Asango were central to the achievement. Their dedication and cooperation with teachers ensured that the school’s first KCSE cohort not only performed well but also set a solid foundation for future success.
Dr. Idda Odinga Girls’ Secondary School has shown that vision, teamwork and strategic investment in human and physical capital can turn a fledgling institution into a beacon of excellence. The 2025 results are a message to the education sector: with the right systems and leadership, new schools can achieve outstanding results.
If 2025 dazzled, 2026 promises to be extraordinary. With a larger student body, more refined systems and the implementation of critical infrastructure projects like additional dormitories, a library and more teachers’ quarters, the school is poised to raise the bar even higher, inspiring other institutions across the county and the country.
