A recent survey by Infotrak Research & Consulting Limited found that Kenyans hold varying perceptions of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) grading system, which categorizes student performance as Exceeds Expectation, Meets Expectation, Approaches Expectation, or Below Expectation.
According to the poll released on January 29, 45% of respondents were dissatisfied with the CBC grading system, while 38% were satisfied. 17% of those interviewed in the survey said they were unsure.
45% of Kenyans Dissatisfied With CBC Grading System
Satisfaction with the CBC grading system varies across regions in Kenya. In the Coast region, 23% of respondents were satisfied, while in the Northeastern region, only 12% were.
Eastern Kenya recorded a 32% satisfaction rate, Central 30%, and Rift Valley 42%. Western Kenya had 46% satisfaction, Nyanza 38%, and Nairobi 37%.
According to the survey’s findings, Coast registered 55%, Northeastern 50%, Eastern 48%, Central 43%, Rift Valley 35%, Western 47%, Nyanza 49%, and Nairobi 45%.
Overall, across the country, 38% of respondents were satisfied with the CBC grading system, 45% were dissatisfied, and 17% were unsure.
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Concern on CBC Transition
The report also noted that learners and parents encountered several challenges during the transition to Senior Secondary.
The most common concern is the high cost of education, including school fees and uniforms, cited by 39% of respondents.
About 19% reported a lack of adequate information or guidance about the new system, while 13% said they struggled to pay school fees.
Other issues include uncertainty about student placement (4%), psychological stress or anxiety among learners (2%), and inadequate learning materials (2%).
Additionally, 19% of respondents said they did not know what challenges they were facing.
Also Read: Infotrak Survey Shows 62% of Kenyans Believe Kenya is Headed in the Wrong Direction
Views on School Uniform
Infotrak also featured 800 respondents in a survey examining public views on making secondary school uniforms optional. About 34% of those surveyed supported the idea, while 63% opposed it. The remaining 3% were undecided or did not express a view.
Conversely, opposition dominance was widespread, peaking at 73% in Nairobi. Overall, 34% of respondents nationwide support the proposal, 63% oppose it, and 2% remain unsure.
The quantitative survey, conducted between December 2025 and January 2026, sampled 1,000 adult Kenyans aged 18 and above using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI).
The poll was sponsored and funded by Infotrak Research & Consulting Limited and conducted between December 2025 and January 2026.
The survey reached a sample of 1,000 adult Kenyans aged 18 and above.
“The survey covered all the 47 counties and 8 regions of Kenya. To ensure national representativeness, the distribution of the survey sample across the regions was proportionately allocated,” part of the report read.
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