A national opinion poll indicates that 45 percent of Kenyans are dissatisfied with the government’s student grading system under the controversial Competency-Based Curriculum.
The Infotrak survey, conducted between December 2025 and January 2026 across all 47 counties, interviewed 1,000 adult Kenyans. Results show 45 percent unhappy with the CBC grading framework, while only 38 percent expressed satisfaction.
Seventeen percent of respondents remained undecided about their stance on the grading system that replaced traditional letter grades.
Regional variations revealed North Eastern Kenya has the highest dissatisfaction rate at 80 percent. The Coast region follows with 55 percent dissatisfied, while the Eastern region recorded 50 percent, showing significant regional concerns.
Notable dissatisfaction was also observed in Nairobi and Nyanza regions, with nearly half of respondents in these areas critical of the assessment framework.
The survey found that dissatisfaction is evenly distributed across gender lines, indicating these grading concerns cut across demographic boundaries.
However, older respondents, particularly those aged 46 and above with school-going children, showed greater opposition to the system.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has defended the CBC grading approach, explaining it identifies student strengths from Grade 10 onward.
According to Ogamba, the system focuses on specific competencies rather than rote memorization. He acknowledged challenges during the transition from Grade 9 to 10 but dismissed placement criticisms as politically motivated, defending the merit-based selection process.
This dissatisfaction aligns with broader CBC implementation concerns, including high education costs cited by 39 percent of respondents.
Nineteen percent of respondents also complained about insufficient information and guidance about the system, which erodes public confidence in the grading process.