2026 School Calendar Released with Full Term and Exam Dates
The Ministry of Education has officially unveiled the 2026 academic calendar for all basic education institutions nationwide. The schedule applies to pre-primary, primary, junior, senior, secondary schools, and diploma teacher training colleges.
Term Dates and Breaks
Schools will open for Term 1 on January 5, 2026, and close on April 2, after 13 weeks of learning. A half-term break is set for February 25–March 1, followed by a three-week April holiday.
Term 2 begins on April 27 and ends on July 31, spanning 14 weeks. A mid-term break runs from June 24–28, with a three-week holiday from August 3–21.
Term 3—the final term—starts on August 24 and concludes on October 23, covering nine weeks. The long December holiday will run from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
National Exam Schedule
National assessments under the Competency-Based Curriculum begin on October 26, 2026. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) runs from October 26–29.
Kenya Intermediate Level (KILEA) and Junior School Education Assessments (KJSEA) also start on October 26. The Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Assessment (KPLEA) begins on November 2.
The KCSE examinations will be administered from November 2 to November 20, 2026.
Diploma Teacher Training Colleges
Diploma colleges follow a similar structure: Term 1 (January 6–April 2), Term 2 (April 27–July 31), and Term 3 (August 24–November 6). Their holiday begins November 9, 2026, and ends January 1, 2027.
Restrictions Remain in Place
The ministry reiterated its ban on school visits during Term 3 of secondary education.
Regional and county education offices must disseminate the circular to every institution under their jurisdiction
