Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Not every student gets a C+. Thousands each year score C-, D+ or lower, and many feel their future has closed. It has not. Kenya’s TVET system was built for exactly these students, and it leads to jobs employers struggle to fill.
On this page
What each grade opens
- C- (minus): the usual minimum for a diploma in public TVET institutions and many colleges. Some diploma courses ask for particular subject grades too.
- D+ and D (plain): commonly accepted for certificate courses, which typically last about a year or more.
- D- and E: artisan courses and trade tests, which teach hands-on skills such as plumbing, electrical installation, welding, hairdressing and tailoring.
Each institution sets its own requirements within national rules, so check the specific course. Our minimum grades guide goes into more detail.
Where to study
Government-sponsored places in national polytechnics, technical training institutes and vocational training centres are available through the KUCCPS portal (see KUCCPS’s 2026 placement announcement). Students apply for these just as they would for university, and placed students can apply for government funding. County governments run many vocational training centres too, often with low fees.
Popular fields with job demand
- Electrical and electronics engineering
- Building and construction trades
- Automotive and motor vehicle mechanics
- ICT, computer networking and graphic design
- Hospitality, food production and tourism
- Agriculture and agribusiness
- Fashion design and beauty
From certificate to degree
The Kenyan qualifications framework allows progression. A student can do a certificate, move up to a diploma, and then use the diploma to join a degree programme, often with credit for earlier study. A diploma holder does not need to resit KCSE to reach university. It takes longer, but students who take this route often arrive with practical experience their classmates lack.
Should you resit KCSE instead?
Resitting suits a student who missed a target narrowly and who knows exactly what went wrong, such as illness during the exam. It costs a full year. For most students with D grades, a TVET course builds more value than repeating. Our resit guide covers the process if you choose that path.
Talking to your child
Low results can hit a young person hard. Focus on next steps, not blame. Look at the course list together and let them choose a field they find interesting. Our after-KCSE plan has a calendar you can follow together.
For younger children in CBC, the senior school pathways already build in technical routes; see how Grade 10 placement works.
Private colleges: check accreditation
Some private colleges advertise heavily to students with low grades. Before paying, confirm that the institution is registered with the TVET Authority (check TVETA’s accredited institutions list) and that the course is examined by a recognised body such as KNEC, CDACC or a professional body. Ask to see the registration certificate, and ask past students where they work now. A cheap course that is not recognised wastes both money and time.
Real numbers for perspective
In the 2025 KCSE, the Ministry reported that 634,082 candidates (63.67%) got D+ and above, and 507,131 (50.92%) got C- and above, according to the Ministry of Education’s 2025 KCSE results statement. That means close to half of all candidates scored below C-, and over a third below D+. A low grade puts a student in a very large group, and the TVET system exists to serve them. What matters most now is choosing a course with real job demand and finishing it well.
Want more practice before results day, or for the next exam in your house? A CBC Guides membership opens every practice paper with worked answers, the quizzes and the revision papers for KJSEA and senior school. Plans start at KSh 500 a month. See membership plans.
Related: KCSE 2026 hub · KCSE practice papers · Parent tools