BY GODFREY WAMALWA
Hope, faith and academic excellence took centre stage at St. Teresa’s Tartar Girls Senior School as the institution held a colourful Prayer Day for its 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to nurturing confident, disciplined and high-achieving young women.
The inspiring event brought together parents, teachers, clergy, alumni and friends of the school in a moving celebration of faith and partnership, as the school community united in prayer for the candidates ahead of one of the most significant milestones in their academic journey.
The Chief Guest, Fr. Paul Sunguti, Education Secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Kitale, presided over the Holy Mass alongside Fr. Julius Shibanda, the Parish Priest of Tartar Parish.
In his uplifting message, Fr. Sunguti challenged the candidates to embrace discipline, resilience and hard work, reminding them that every dream is achieved through determination, sacrifice and unwavering faith in God.
He encouraged the learners to remain focused on their goals, assuring them that with dedication, integrity and God’s guidance, success is within reach. He also commended the school for creating an environment that nurtures both academic excellence and moral values.
Fr. Sunguti further appealed to parents to continue supporting their daughters by instilling strong Christian values and working closely with teachers in shaping responsible and compassionate future leaders. He paid glowing tribute to the teaching staff for their tireless commitment and selfless service in preparing the candidates academically, spiritually and emotionally for the national examinatination.
Addressing parents and guests, Principal Mary Cheplilan expressed confidence that St. Teresa’s Tartar Girls Senior School is on course to attain an impressive mean score of 8.6 in this year’s KCSE examination.
Widely admired for her inspirational leadership, Principal Cheplilan has earned the respect of the school community through her humility, approachable nature and unwavering commitment to excellence. She is known for motivating teachers, students and non-teaching staff to perform at their highest level, creating a culture of teamwork, professionalism and shared responsibility. Her open-door leadership style and willingness to listen have cultivated a harmonious learning and working environment where every member of the school community feels valued and inspired to contribute towards the school’s continued success.
She attributed the school’s confidence to the outstanding performance registered in internal assessments and mock examinations, coupled with the determination of the candidates, the dedication of the teaching staff and the unwavering support of parents.
“Our girls have shown exceptional commitment, discipline and resilience throughout their academic journey. They have embraced every opportunity to learn, grow and excel. We are confident they will rise to the occasion and make the school, their families and the nation proud,” said Cheplilan.
The principal reminded the candidates that each one of them possesses unique potential and that God has a wonderful purpose for their lives. She urged them to remain prayerful, believe in themselves and approach the examination with confidence, knowing that their hard work will bear fruit.
As the candidates prepare for the school holiday, Cheplilan encouraged them to use the time wisely by remaining focused on revision and avoiding distractions that could compromise their academic goals. She also appealed to parents to create a peaceful and supportive home environment that will enable the candidates to concentrate fully on their studies.
The principal warmly thanked parents who travelled from different parts of the country to attend the Prayer Day, describing their overwhelming turnout as a clear demonstration of love, sacrifice and unwavering belief in their daughters’ future.
Built on a strong Catholic foundation, St. Teresa’s Tartar Girls Senior School continues to distinguish itself as a centre of academic excellence where discipline, innovation, talent development and spiritual growth go hand in hand. The school has consistently invested in quality teaching, effective mentorship and holistic learner development, empowering every girl to realise her full potential.
With a dedicated Board of Management, an inspirational principal, committed teachers, supportive parents and a learner-centred environment, St. Teresa’s Tartar Girls Senior School continues to raise a generation of confident, God-fearing and academically accomplished young women prepared to excel in higher education and become transformational leaders in society.
As the 2026 KCSE examination draws closer, the school remains firmly focused on its mission of nurturing excellence, inspiring greatness and producing results that reflect its enduring tradition of quality education. At St. Teresa’s Tartar Girls Senior School, every learner is empowered to dream boldly, work diligently and achieve success.
