Education CS Julius Migos Ogamba/FILEEducation Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has reaffirmed that schools cannot require learners to report before 7:15 am, saying the reporting time is provided for in the Basic Education Regulations, 2015.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Ogamba said the law clearly distinguishes between the earliest time learners may report to school and the official hours for classroom instruction.
“The earliest permissible reporting time is 7.15 a.m., while the prescribed class hours commence from 8 a.m. and end at 3.30 p.m.,” Ogamba said.
He said the Basic Education Act, 2013, and regulations made under it provide the legal framework governing opening hours, learners' reporting times and their safety and welfare.
Ogamba cited Regulation 84 of the Basic Education Regulations, 2015, which sets the operating hours for day public and private institutions from Monday to Friday.
Under the regulation, classroom instruction runs from 8 am to 3.30 pm, while co-curricular activities may continue from 3.30 pm to 4.45 pm.
Regulation 84(2) further states that no day institution of basic education and training shall require learners to report earlier than 7.15 am.
The CS said the regulations apply to both public and private day institutions, meaning schools are expected to organise their programmes within the prescribed framework.
The distinction also means that reporting at 7:15 am does not amount to the start of classroom teaching, which is officially scheduled to begin at 8 am.
The framework is intended to guide institutions on when learners may be required to be present and when formal instruction should begin.
His remarks come amid continuing concerns from parents and learners over early reporting times imposed by some schools.
The Cabinet Secretary's clarification also comes ahead of the reopening of schools for the third term.
Earlier, the Ministry of Education confirmed that the official school reopening dates for Term Three remained unchanged, dismissing reports circulating on social media that the dates had been postponed.
The ministry said pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools will reopen on Monday, August 24, 2026, for a nine-week term ending on October 23, 2026.
Diploma Teacher Training Colleges will also resume on August 24 and close on November 6, according to the approved academic calendar.
The ministry said national assessment and examination dates, including KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA, KPLEA and KCSE, also remain unchanged, with the scheduled programmes starting from October 26, 2026.
Ogamba urged parents, teachers, learners and other education stakeholders to rely on official communication from the Ministry of Education and disregard unauthorised notices circulating online.
