Nearly half of Kenyans believe the quality of education has improved since the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and Competency-Based Education (CBE), according to a recent national opinion poll conducted by Infotrak Research & Consulting.
The survey reveals that 49 per cent of respondents feel the overall standard of education is “Better” under the new system, while 18 per cent think it remains “About the same.” Meanwhile, 33 per cent believe it has worsened.
The findings reflect a nation divided on the impact of CBC/CBE, which continues to replace the 8-4-4 structure across Kenya’s learning levels.
Regional variations are prominent in how the reforms are viewed. North Eastern leads with the highest approval, as 78 per cent of residents there report that education is “Better.” Rift Valley follows with 54 per cent, Western with 60 per cent, and Nyanza with 52 per cent expressing a positive outlook.
Conversely, some areas show greater dissatisfaction. The Coast region records the largest share of respondents saying education is “Worse” at 50 per cent. Nairobi reports 36 per cent in this category, while Eastern and Central register 39 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively.
In Nairobi, public opinion is divided: 42 per cent feel education has improved, over a third say it has worsened, and 21 per cent believe it has stayed the same. The split suggests varied experiences among urban households.
The survey also highlights differences by gender and age. Men are slightly more optimistic than women, with more men reporting that education is “Better.” Nevertheless, a considerable portion of both men and women remain concerned, indicating persistent reservations about CBC/CBE.
Age plays a notable role in perceptions. Young adults aged 18 to 26 are among the most positive, with many describing education as “Better.” However, the sentiment declines with age, with those over 55 showing higher levels of dissatisfaction and more frequently stating that the quality of education is “Worse.”
The poll, conducted from December 2025 to January 2026, was sponsored and financed by Infotrak Research & Consulting Limited. Data was collected through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) with a margin of error of ±3.10% at a 95% confidence level and a 99 per cent response rate.
The sample of 1,000 adults was designed to represent Kenyans aged 18 and above. The selection followed a Population Proportionate to Size method based on the 2019 Census, covering all 47 counties and eight regions. To ensure national representativeness, the survey sample was proportionally distributed across the regions.
