KNEC Releases Teacher Exam Results but Withholds Some Over Unpaid College Fees

NAIROBI, Kenya — Thousands of teacher trainees can now check their examination results through their colleges, but some candidates may have to wait because their institutions have not cleared outstanding fees owed to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

In a notice issued on Thursday, 15 October 2026, the examinations council confirmed that results for six teacher education assessment and examination programmes had been sent to colleges.

However, KNEC said results for institutions with unpaid assessment and examination fees had been withheld until the outstanding balances are settled.

The decision places the responsibility for clearing the arrears on the affected colleges, while leaving candidates waiting for results they need to assess their academic progress and plan their next steps.

“The candidates who sat these assessments and examinations are advised to obtain the results from their colleges,” KNEC said in the notice.

The council added that the affected institutions had already been informed of their outstanding balances and asked to make the necessary payments to facilitate the release of the results.

KNEC did not identify the colleges affected or disclose the total amount outstanding in the notice cited by news reports.

Six teacher education programmes covered

The results cover trainees who sat examinations under several teacher training programmes.

According to the notice, the release includes three diploma programmes for the 2023 cohort and three other teacher education qualifications for the 2025 cohort.

The programmes include:

Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE)
Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (DSTE)
Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE)
Diploma in Teacher Education (DTE)
Diploma in Special Needs Education (DSNE), Parts I and II
Teacher Certificate in Adult Education (TCAE)

Candidates have been advised to contact their respective colleges to establish whether their results are available and how they can collect them.

Those whose results have been withheld should seek clarification from their college administrations on the outstanding payments and the steps being taken to resolve the issue.

KNEC has not announced a separate collection date for candidates affected by the arrears.

Why some candidates may have to wait

The withholding of results highlights a problem for trainees whose academic progress depends on administrative decisions made by their institutions.

While the outstanding fees are owed by the colleges, candidates may be left waiting for their results until the institutions settle their accounts.

For trainees hoping to complete their qualifications, the delay could complicate decisions about further studies, employment opportunities and other professional plans.

However, KNEC's notice does not establish how many candidates are affected or how long the delay is likely to last.

The immediate priority for the affected colleges is to clear their balances so that the council can release the withheld results.

Candidates should avoid assuming that their results have been withheld simply because they cannot access them immediately. They should first confirm their status with their college and establish whether the delay relates to unpaid fees or another administrative issue.

TSC proposes changes to teacher training entry grades

The results announcement comes as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) pursues proposed changes to teacher registration and training requirements.

In May 2026, the commission outlined proposals that could lower the minimum Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade for admission to certain diploma teacher education programmes from C+ to C plain.

The proposed reforms also included lower entry thresholds for persons with disabilities in specified courses and changes to the recognition of teaching subjects, including learning areas introduced under the Competency-Based Curriculum.

The proposals are intended to review the qualifications required for registration and align teacher preparation with changing curriculum needs.

However, the proposed entry-grade changes should not be confused with the KNEC results release. The examination announcement concerns candidates who have already sat assessments, while the TSC proposals concern the qualifications and requirements for entering or qualifying for the teaching profession.

Prospective trainees should confirm the applicable entry requirements with the TSC and the relevant training institutions before applying, as proposals do not automatically become enforceable rules.

What candidates should do now

Candidates covered by the latest KNEC announcement should contact their colleges to confirm whether their results have arrived.

Those whose results remain unavailable should ask the administration to establish whether the institution has outstanding examination fees and what action is being taken to clear them.

Colleges with arrears should prioritise settling the outstanding balances and communicating progress to affected trainees.

KNEC has made clear that payment is a condition for releasing results withheld over unpaid assessment and examination fees. The council has not, however, published a list of the affected institutions in the notice cited in the reports.

For candidates who have completed their assessments, the next step may therefore depend not only on their performance but also on whether their college has met its financial obligations to the examinations council.

The council's announcement provides a route for candidates to obtain their results, but those affected by the fee dispute will need further clarification from their institutions on when their results can be released.

Category: News

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.