- Schools will reopen on August 24 and close on October 23 under the approved calendar.
- Teacher Training Colleges will also reopen on August 24 but run until November 6.
- National assessments and examinations will proceed as scheduled under the KNEC timetable.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has dismissed information circulating on social media claiming that the Term III 2026 academic calendar has been changed, confirming that schools and Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs) will reopen as scheduled on Monday, August 24.
In a clarification issued on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the academic calendar for basic education institutions and TTCs remains unchanged.
The clarification comes amid misleading information circulating on various social media platforms purporting that the Ministry had altered the calendar.
“Our attention has been drawn to misleading information circulating on various social media platforms, purporting that the academic calendar for basic education institutions and Teacher Training Colleges has been changed,” the Ministry said in the notice signed by Ogamba.
“We wish to clarify that the academic calendar for basic education institutions and Teacher Training Colleges remains unchanged.”
Under the approved calendar, basic education institutions will begin Term III on August 24, 2026, and close on October 23, 2026.
The dates mean learners are expected back in school on Monday as planned, with no extension of the August holiday despite the information circulating online.
Teacher Training Colleges will similarly open for the term on August 24. However, their academic term will extend beyond the basic education calendar, with TTCs scheduled to close on November 6, 2026.
The Ministry’s clarification is particularly important for parents, learners, teachers and school administrators making preparations for the reopening of institutions for the final term of the 2026 academic year.
It also puts to rest uncertainty created by unofficial information circulating online concerning possible changes to the reopening dates.
National examinations remain on schedule
The Ministry further clarified that national assessments and examinations have not been affected by the misleading reports and will proceed according to the existing timetable.
“National assessments and examinations will proceed as currently scheduled, in line with the timetable issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council,” Ogamba said.
The clarification means schools and examination candidates should continue preparing according to the existing Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) schedule.
Term III is particularly significant in the basic education calendar because it includes national assessments and examinations alongside completion of the year’s learning programme.
The Ministry did not announce any adjustment to either the school calendar or the examination timetable in Wednesday’s communication.
Ministry warns against unofficial information
Ogamba urged education stakeholders to rely on official Ministry communication instead of information circulated through unverified social media accounts.
“Parents, teachers, learners and members of the general public are advised to strictly rely on the Ministry’s official communication channels and field officers for accurate information,” he said.
The warning comes amid growing circulation of unofficial notices and messages on social media, which can create confusion among parents, learners and education institutions when presented as official government communication.
READ ALSO:
The Ministry’s clarification therefore leaves the approved Term III calendar unchanged: basic education institutions will operate from August 24 to October 23, while Teacher Training Colleges will run from August 24 to November 6, 2026. National assessments and examinations will continue according to the KNEC timetable.
By Joseph Mambili
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
