722, 511 candidates in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results, released on Friday 9, scored C- (minus) and below, raising concerns about the quality of education and preparedness of students for higher learning.
Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba highlighted that out of the total 993,226 candidates, only 270,715 candidates secured direct entry to university.
According to the KNEC statistics, in 2024, a total of 719,110 candidates failed to attain the C+ minimum grade, and this number has now risen slightly to 722,511 in 2025, leaving many students redirected into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs under the government’s 100 per cent transition policy for skills training.
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Other results indicated some improvement in lower bands: candidates scoring C- and above rose from 476,889 to 507,131, while those scoring D+ and above increased from 605,774 to 634,082.
The 2025 KCSE results highlight both progress and challenges: while more candidates qualified for direct university entry compared to previous years, the alarmingly high number of students missing the C+ threshold underscores the urgent need to strengthen the secondary education.
By Juma Ndigo
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