The school calendar for the 2026 academic year is now officially confirmed, bringing clarity to parents, teachers, and learners across the country.
According to the Ministry of Education, all primary and secondary schools are set to reopen for the first term on January 5, 2026. Learners will be in class until April 3, marking a full 13-week term before they proceed to the first holiday of the year.
The announcement, made through an official circular by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, lays out a clear schedule meant to ensure smooth learning and restore normal school operations that had previously faced disruptions.
After the completion of the first term, pupils and students will take a three-week break starting April 6 and ending on April 24. The second term will then commence on April 25 and continue until August 7.
To give learners and teachers some time to rest, there will be a mid-term break from June 15 to June 28 before classes resume for the remainder of the term.
Once the second term concludes, schools will go on another three-week holiday beginning August 10 to August 28, giving students ample time to recharge before the final stretch of the academic year.The third term will begin on August 24 and last for nine weeks, running up to November 14.
As has been the tradition in recent years, there will be no mid-term break during this period, allowing schools to focus fully on completing the syllabus and preparing for the national exams. The Ministry of Education has also maintained the restriction on school visits and non-academic activities in secondary schools during the third term to ensure maximum concentration on studies.
Learners will then break for a long holiday beginning November 17, which will continue until January 2, 2027.
For teacher training colleges that offer diploma programs, the Ministry has provided a similar structure to align with the school calendar.
Their first term will begin on January 6, followed by the second term starting April 27 and the third term beginning on August 24.
This synchronization is part of a broader plan to maintain consistency across all learning institutions and to avoid overlapping academic schedules.
The calendar also includes the dates for national examinations. The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will take place from November 16 to November 19, while the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will run from November 23 to December 17.Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has instructed education officers at every level to adhere strictly to the outlined calendar.
He emphasized that maintaining this structure is essential in supporting the government’s ongoing efforts to restore and stabilize the academic year, which had previously faced adjustments due to unexpected disruptions.
The new calendar, therefore, provides a sense of order and predictability for learners, parents, and teachers as they prepare for a smooth and uninterrupted 2026 academic year.
