KCSE 2025: Alarm as over 700K out of 993,226 candidates miss direct university entry

Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba highlighted that 270,715 candidates secured direct entry to university out of the total 993,226 candidates. He commended the performance, citing a 9.8 per cent increase from the 2024 KCSE results. 

The statistics, however, paint a worrying picture.

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.

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.

Grading System

In his speech, CS Ogamba revealed that the students were graded using the reviewed grading system in which the overall grade considers Math, best-performed language among English/Kiswahili/Kenya Sign Language and the best-performed five subjects. 

The system, which came into effect in 2023, is a distinct contrast to the previous system, which considered seven subjects including English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, two Science subjects and two other subjects.

The old grading system was criticised by the Presidential Working Party on Education reforms for disadvantaging learners whose strongest subjects were outside the set cluster.

Under the new reforms, English and Kiswahili measure literacy, while Mathematics and a Science subject assess numeracy, ensuring a broader evaluation of a learner’s abilities. 

The system aligns with the broader shift from the 8-4-4 curriculum to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), emphasising skills and competencies over rote learning.

To support this transition, CS Ogamba highlighted the recruitment of 100,000 teachers since 2023, the construction of 23,000 classrooms for Grade 9, and the timely release of capitation funds.

The curriculum has been under sharp scrutiny among parents, who questioned the readiness of the government in providing adequate resources, trained teachers, and infrastructure to fully implement the Competency-Based Curriculum.

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.