Ministry of Education Releases 2026 School Calendar and Reopening Dates

The Ministry of Education has officially released the academic calendar for the 2026 school year, outlining reopening dates, term schedules, holidays, and national examination timelines for Basic Education Institutions and Diploma Teachers Training Colleges (DTTCs).

In a circular signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, and copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and the Council of Governors, the Ministry confirmed that all learning institutions under basic education will reopen on January 5, 2026.

The circular has been circulated to all regional, county, and sub-county directors of education for implementation.

According to the schedule, Term I will run for 13 weeks, beginning on January 5 and ending on April 2, 2026. Learners will observe a five-day half-term break from February 25 to March 1, 2026. This will be followed by a three-week April holiday, running from April 7 to April 24, 2026.

Term II is set to last 14 weeks, opening on April 27 and closing on July 31, 2026. A second half-term break will be observed between June 24 and June 28, after which students will proceed for a three-week August holiday ending on August 21, 2026.

The final school term, Term III, will be the shortest, spanning nine weeks from August 24 to October 23, 2026.

The Ministry also confirmed the examination calendar for all national assessments. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will run for five days, starting on October 26, 2026. On the same date, the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will begin, with the exams scheduled to last seven days.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will run for three weeks, from November 2 to November 20, 2026.

Following the completion of Term III and national examinations, students will proceed for the long end-of-year holiday. The December holiday will last 10 weeks, starting on October 26, 2026, and ending on January 1, 2027.

Diploma Teachers Training Colleges will largely follow a similar academic schedule. However, their third term will extend until November 6, 2026, lasting 11 weeks, with their December holiday beginning on November 9, 2026.

The Ministry has also reiterated an existing directive affecting secondary schools. The circular clearly states that all activities and visits to secondary schools during the third term of 2026 remain prohibited, in line with earlier issued circulars. The directive applies to all basic education institutions across the country.