NAIROBI — Pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools across Kenya will reopen for the 2026 academic year on January 5, the Ministry of Education has confirmed, setting out a structured calendar that defines term dates, holidays and national examinations.
In a circular signed by the Basic Education Principal Secretary, Julius K. Bitok, the ministry detailed a full-year schedule for Basic Education Institutions as well as Diploma Teachers Training Colleges (DTTCs). The directive was shared with Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Council of Governors.
The circular has also been dispatched to all regional, county and sub-county directors of education, making it the official guide for the 2026 school year.
Term dates and school holidays
According to the ministry, Term I will run for 13 weeks, beginning on January 5 and ending on April 2, 2026. Learners will have a five-day mid-term break from February 25 to March 1.
The April holiday will last three weeks, from April 7 to April 24.
Term II opens on April 27 and runs for 14 weeks, closing on July 31, 2026. A second half-term break is scheduled between June 24 and June 28, followed by the August holiday, which will run for three weeks and end on August 21.
The final school term, Term III, will be the shortest, lasting nine weeks from August 24 to October 23, 2026.
National examinations timeline
The circular also confirms dates for key national assessments under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the 8-4-4 system.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will run for five days starting October 26, 2026. On the same date, the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will begin, running for seven days.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination will take place over three weeks, from November 2 to November 20, 2026, in line with the current national examination cycle overseen by KNEC.
End-of-year break and colleges schedule
Following the completion of Term III and the national assessments, learners will proceed for the December holiday, which will last 10 weeks, running from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
Diploma Teachers Training Colleges will follow a broadly similar calendar, though their Term III will extend to November 6, 2026, lasting 11 weeks. DTTCs will begin their December holiday on November 9.
Ban on third-term school activities maintained
The ministry has also reiterated an existing restriction affecting secondary schools. The circular states that activities and visits to secondary schools during Term III of 2026 remain banned, in line with earlier directives issued by the ministry.
Education officials say the restriction is intended to minimise disruptions during the final term, which is heavily focused on examination preparation.
Why it matters
The release of the 2026 academic calendar provides early clarity for schools, parents and education stakeholders, particularly as Kenya continues to implement reforms under the CBC system. With fixed term dates and clearly defined assessment timelines, the ministry aims to improve planning, learning continuity and examination preparedness across the country’s education system.
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