The Ministry of Education has officially unveiled the school calendar for the 2026 academic year.
The schedule outlines key term dates and examination schedules for both Basic Education Institutions and Diploma Teachers Training Colleges.
In a circular signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, the ministry confirmed that all Basic Education Institutions ; pre-primary, primary, junior, senior, and secondary schools will resume for the new academic year on January 5, 2026.
Term Dates for Basic Education Institutions
Term I: Runs for 13 weeks, from January 5 to April 2, 2026, with a half-term break from February 25 to March 1, 2026. The April holiday will span three weeks, from April 7 to April 24.
Term II: Commences on April 27 and ends on July 31, 2026, lasting 14 weeks. Learners will have a mid-term break from June 24 to June 28, followed by a three-week August holiday from August 1 to August 21.
Term III: The shortest term, will run for nine weeks from August 24 to October 23, 2026.
National Examination Dates
According to the ministry, national assessments will begin immediately after the end pf third Term.
Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will run for five days, starting October 26, 2026.
Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will also start on October 26, lasting seven days.
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will follow from November 2 to November 20, 2026, spanning three weeks.
After the exams, students will proceed for the December holiday, which will last 10 weeks, running from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
Diploma Teacher Training Colleges
For Diploma Teachers Training Colleges, the calendar is similar to that of Basic Education Institutions, except for Term III, which will run for 11 weeks ; from August 24 to November 6, 2026.
The December break for DTTCs will begin on November 9.
The ministry underscored that the 2026 academic year will end around October 24, 2025, marking the end of Term III.
The PS also maintained that all activities and visits to secondary schools during the third term of 2026 remain banned, in line with earlier circulars issued by the ministry.