By Brian KIprono - Reporter
Kenya, 4 January 2026 - The Ministry of Education has unveiled the official academic calendar for 2026, giving parents, learners and teachers a clear roadmap for the school year ahead across all basic education institutions and teacher training colleges.
In a circular signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius K. Bitok, the ministry confirmed that learning for pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools will resume on 5 January 2026.
The directive was copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, the Teachers Service Commission, the Kenya National Examinations Council and the Council of Governors, and circulated to all education directors nationwide.
According to the schedule, Term I will run for 13 weeks and end on April 2, 2026. Learners will have a short mid-term break from 25 February to 1 March 2026, before proceeding to the April holiday, which will last three weeks between 7 April and 24 April 2026.
Term II will begin on 27 April 2026 and run for 14 weeks, closing on 31 July 2026. A second half-term break is planned from 24 June to 28 June 2026, followed by the August holiday, which will run for three weeks and end on 21 August 2026.
The final term of the year, Term III, will be the shortest. It is scheduled to last nine weeks, from August 24 to October 23, 2026, before candidates transition into the national examination period.
The ministry also outlined dates for key national assessments. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will run for five days starting 26 October 2026.
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The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will also begin on 26 October and last seven days.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations are scheduled for three weeks, from 2 November to 20 November 2026.
After exams, learners will break for the long December holiday, which will last ten weeks, from 26 October 2026 to 1 January 2027.
Diploma Teachers Training Colleges will generally follow the same calendar, although their third term will extend to 6 November with the December holiday starting on 9 November 2026.
The circular also reaffirmed existing restrictions, stating that “Activities and visits to secondary schools in third term 2026 remain banned as per the earlier circulars.”
