The sharp rise in university qualifiers in the 2025 KCSE results is not just down to hard work; it is the fruit of a calculated policy shift. The new grading system, fully implemented this year, has proven to be the lifeline for over 50,000 students who would have otherwise crashed out.

Under the new regime, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) only considers two mandatory subjects—Mathematics and one Language (English or Kiswahili)—plus the five best-performed subjects. This departure from the rigid "all-compulsory" system has unlocked the potential of students who are gifted in humanities but struggle in sciences, or vice versa.

The Data Proof

Analysis shows that if the old system were applied, the number of C+ grades would have hovered around 190,000. With the new formula, it hit 270,715. The biggest beneficiaries are students in day schools who often lack the labs to perform well in all three sciences.

• Flexibility: A student who scored an A in History and Geography but a D in Physics can now count their strengths without the D dragging down their mean grade. It is a more humane assessment of ability.
• TVET Boost: The system also clarifies pathways for those joining TVETs, ensuring they are placed in courses that align with their specific subject strengths rather than a generic aggregate.
• Critics: Purists argue this "grade inflation" dilutes the quality of the KCSE certificate. However, CS Ogamba insists it aligns with global best practices where specialization starts early.

A Fairer Playground

For the Class of 2025, the reforms came just in time. They are the first true beneficiaries of a system that asks "What are you good at?" rather than "Why are you bad at this?"