The Ministry of Education has released an academic calendar for 2026.

Through a circular released by the state department of basic education and copied to the education cabinet secretary, Julius Ogambo, and served to all regional directors, county directors of education and sub-county directors of education on Monday, October 13, 2025. The calendar will apply to both Teacher Training Colleges (TTC) and both senior and junior primaries.

According to the circular, after a 7-week December holiday, which will begin on October 24, 2025, Term I will run for 13 weeks, ending on April 2, 2026. Learners will take a five-day midterm break from February 25 to March 1, 2026.

The April holiday will last three weeks, from April 7, 2026 to April 24, 2026.

Term II will span 14 weeks, beginning on April 27, 2026, and closing on July 31, 2026. A half-term break is scheduled from June 24, 2026, to June 28, 2026, followed by a three-week August holiday ending on August 21, 2026.

Term III will be the shortest, running for nine weeks from August 24 to October 23, 2026.

National examinations

According to the circular, national examination dates have also been confirmed. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will each take place over five days, starting October 26, 2026.

The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will also start on October 26, 2026, and continue for seven days.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will be conducted over three weeks, from November 2 to November 20, 2026.

After completing exams, learners will break for the long December holiday, which will last 10 weeks from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

For Diploma Teacher Training Colleges, the schedule remains similar, though their Term III will extend to November 6, 2026, lasting 11 weeks. Their holiday will begin on November 9.

The Ministry of Education has maintained the ban on all activities and visits to secondary schools during Term III of 2026, as outlined in earlier circulars. The directive applies to all institutions offering basic education.

Most primary and secondary schools will officially close for the December holidays around October 24, 2026, marking the end of the third term, the shortest term of the year and the one that accommodates the national examinations.