For thousands of young Kenyans, education is viewed as the surest pathway to employment and a better future. However, for many teacher trainees who completed their Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) programmes, that dream has been put on hold by a delay that remains unexplained months after they sat their referral examinations.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) plays a critical role in the country's education system by assessing learners and certifying those who successfully complete their studies. The timely release of examination results is not only important for academic progression but also determines whether graduates can secure employment, register with professional bodies, or pursue further studies. Any prolonged delay can have far-reaching consequences on the lives and careers of affected candidates.

What is making the current situation more frustrating is the lack of communication. Many of the affected students say they have waited patiently for months without receiving any official update regarding the status of their results. As the uncertainty drags on, concerns are growing among graduates who fear that years of hard work may continue to go unrewarded while their professional lives remain on hold.

Hello Nyakundi,

Kindly hide my identity.

I would like to raise a serious concern regarding the continued delay in the release of referral examination results for the 2021–2023 Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE) cohort.

Many of us sat for our referral examinations in October 2025 after being required to repeat specific papers following the release of the initial examination results. However, despite completing those examinations many months ago, the referral results have still not been released, and no official communication has been issued explaining the delay.

The situation has left hundreds of students frustrated and uncertain about their future.

At Kericho Teachers Training College alone, more than 30 students reportedly failed Mathematics during the initial examinations, a result that many candidates found unusual. Nevertheless, those affected accepted the referral process, prepared adequately, and sat for the examinations in October 2025 with the expectation that the matter would finally be concluded.

Unfortunately, that has not happened.

To date, the referral results have not been released, and students have been left without any information regarding what is causing the delay or when they can expect to receive their results.

For many of us, this is no longer just an academic issue.

It has become a career crisis.

Most of us began our DPTE studies nearly five years ago with the hope of becoming teachers and contributing to the education sector. We completed our coursework, sat our examinations, and fulfilled every requirement expected of us. Yet today, many of us remain unable to move forward because our results and certificates are still pending.

Without official results and certificates, we cannot apply for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which is a mandatory requirement for employment as a teacher in Kenya.

As a result, many qualified graduates remain locked out of job opportunities while time continues to pass.

The delay has also caused financial hardship and emotional distress. Some graduates are unemployed and unable to pursue teaching opportunities despite having completed their training. Others have had to postpone important life decisions because they are still waiting for documentation that should have been released months ago.

What hurts most is the silence.

If there are challenges affecting the release of the results, we believe KNEC should communicate openly with affected students. We deserve to know what is happening, what is causing the delay, and when the issue will be resolved.

We are therefore appealing to KNEC, the Ministry of Education, and all relevant authorities to urgently intervene and address this matter.

Why have the referral results not been released?

What is causing the delay?

When can students expect to receive their results and certificates?

And how much longer are we expected to wait before we can begin the careers we trained for?

We respectfully urge KNEC to provide a clear update and release the results and certificates without further delay.

After nearly five years of study, examinations, and waiting, all we want is an opportunity to move forward with our lives and careers.

Concerned DPTE Graduate.