Learners across the country will resume studies on January 5, 2026, following the release of a new academic calendar by the Ministry of Education. The timetable outlines the full schedule for Basic Education Institutions and Diploma Teachers Training Colleges (DTTCs), including term dates, holidays, and national examination periods.
The circular, signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok and distributed to all regional, county, and sub-county education directors, was also copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, the Teachers Service Commission, Kenya National Examinations Council, and Council of Governors.
According to the Ministry, Term One for all pre-primary, primary, junior, senior, and secondary schools will run for 13 weeks from January 5 to April 2, 2026. A short half-term break will take place from February 25 to March 1, followed by a three-week April holiday from April 7 to April 24.
Term Two will begin on April 27 and continue for 14 weeks until July 31, 2026. Students will take a mid-term break from June 24 to June 28 before breaking for the August holiday from August 1 to August 21.
The third term, the shortest of the year, will run from August 24 to October 23, 2026. During this period, national examinations will also take place.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will be held for five days starting 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 and last seven days.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will follow shortly after, running for three weeks from November 2 to November 20, 2026. Once examinations conclude, students will proceed for the long end-of-year break that runs for 10 weeks, from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
For Diploma Teachers Training Colleges, the first and second terms will align with those of basic education institutions. However, Term Three will extend to November 6, lasting 11 weeks, before their December holiday begins on November 9, 2026.
The Ministry has reaffirmed that all co-curricular events and visits to secondary schools during the third term remain prohibited. The circular reads: “Activities and visits to secondary schools in third term 2026 remain banned as per the earlier circulars.”
It further indicates that most primary and secondary schools will break for the long December holiday on October 24, marking the conclusion of the third and final term of the year.