Education Ministry Unveils 2026 School Calendar with New Term and Exam Dates
The Ministry of Education has officially released the 2026 academic calendar, detailing new term dates and examination schedules for all basic education institutions across the country.
The schedule, signed by Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, will apply to pre-primary, primary, junior, senior, and secondary schools, as well as diploma teacher training colleges.
According to the circular dated October 9, 2025, schools will reopen for the first term on January 5, 2026, and close on April 2, 2026, after 13 weeks of learning. Learners will then proceed on a three-week April holiday before resuming the second term on April 27, 2026.
The first term will include a half-term break from February 25 to March 1, 2026, giving both students and teachers a brief five-day rest before classes resume.
Second Term Dates
The second term will run for 14 weeks, ending on July 31, 2026. Students will then go on a three-week August holiday from August 3 to August 21, 2026. The half-term break for this term is scheduled between June 24 and June 28, 2026.
Third Term and Exam Dates
The third and final term will begin on August 24, 2026, and end on October 23, 2026, after nine weeks of learning. Examinations will follow immediately thereafter, beginning on October 26, 2026, across all levels under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will run from October 26 to October 29, 2026, while the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) will also start on the same day.
The Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will commence on November 2, 2026.
KCSE Dates
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will kick off on November 2, 2026, and conclude on November 20, 2026. This will pave the way for a long December holiday, which will run for 10 weeks, from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
Diploma Teacher Training Colleges
For diploma teacher training colleges, the 2026 academic year will begin on January 6, 2026, and end on April 2, 2026, for the first term. The second term will run from April 27 to July 31, while the third term will take place between August 24 and November 6, 2026. Colleges will then close for the December holiday from November 9, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
Ban on School Visits
The ministry maintained the current three-term structure and reiterated that visits to secondary schools during the third term will remain prohibited as per standing directives.
Principal Secretary Bitok directed all regional, county, and sub-county directors of education to ensure the circular is distributed to all learning institutions under their jurisdictions.
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Education Ministry Unveils 2026 School Calendar with New Term and Exam Dates