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Support students who didn’t attain varsity grade
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba (left) and Education Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bitok, during the release of the 2025 KCSE results at AIC Chebisaas Boys School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on January 09, 2026.
With the release of the Form Four examination results, schools across the country are celebrating their top performers. While excellence deserves recognition, an uncomfortable silence surrounds another large group of learners— those who scored below C+.
For many of these learners, the days following the release of results are marked by disappointment, shame and a sense of exclusion. Some parents feel their children have failed, while learners internalise the idea that their future has been sealed. Yet this is both unfair and inaccurate.
What often goes unnoticed is that some learners who score below C+ have actually shown positive academic growth. A learner who improved on their end of primary school performance, even if they did not cross the C+ threshold, has demonstrated resilience, effort and learning progress. Unfortunately, the education system rarely celebrates improvement. It only celebrates final grades.
Parents whose children performed below expectations must remember this important truth: examination results do not define a child’s worth, intelligence, or future success.
Across Kenya, there are countless individuals who scored modestly in their national examinations yet went on to live fulfilling and financially stable lives.
Many are skilled artisans, successful traders, technicians, farmers, entrepreneurs and business owners. Recent labour data shows that over 16 million Kenyans earn their livelihoods through informal work.
Learners who scored below C+ should be supported to acquire marketable skills. Opportunities exist through diploma and certificate courses, as well as through structured apprenticeships. Skills pay. Competence pays. Consistency pays.
Instead of disappointment and blame, parents must provide their children reassurance and direction. This is the time to help them identify their strengths, interests and talents.
Education should uplift all learners, not only those who fit a narrow definition of excellence. For the uncelebrated below C+ students, the message must be clear: Your journey is just beginning. With the right support, guidance, and opportunities, you can build a dignified, productive and successful life.
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Baraka Mumo Kilonzo, Kiambani Secondary School
