The Ministry of Education (MoE) has officially released the 2026 school calendar for all levels of basic education and diploma teacher training colleges.
The announcement was contained in a circular issued by Ambassador (Prof.) Julius K. Bitok, CBS, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Basic Education, addressed all Regional Directors of Education, all County Directors of Education, and all Sub-County Directors of Education.
Copies of the communication were also sent to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, the Director-General of the State Department for Basic Education, the Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and the Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Governors.
According to the circular, learning in all pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools will begin on Monday, 5 January 2026, marking the official start of Term One. The term will run for 13 weeks, closing on 2nd April 2026, followed by a three-week April holiday from 7th to 24th April 2026. A five-day half-term break will take place from 25th February to 1st March 2026.
Term Two will commence on 27th April 2026 and end on 31st July 2026, lasting 14 weeks. Learners will enjoy a five-day half-term between 24th and 28th June 2026, and an August holiday from 3rd to 21st August 2026. The third term will then open on 24th August and close on 23rd October 2026, running for nine weeks before the national assessments begin.
Among the listed examinations, the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) are all scheduled between October 26 and 30, 2026.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will take place from November 2 to November 20 2026. Afterwards, learners will have a ten-week December holiday from October 26, 2026, to January 1 2027.
Explaining the release, Prof. Bitok said the ministry aimed to sustain a predictable learning rhythm across all schools.
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“The 2026 calendar restores normalcy in the academic cycle and gives both teachers and learners ample time to cover the syllabus and prepare for national assessments,” he stated in the circular.
He further instructed that the circular should be distributed to all institutions of basic education under each regional, county, and sub-county jurisdiction for immediate implementation.
Diploma Teacher Training Colleges Academic Calendar
The same circular also outlined the academic calendar for diploma teacher training colleges (TTCs). The colleges will begin Term One on 6th January 2026, running until 2nd April 2026—a period of 13 weeks.
This will be followed by a three-week April holiday from April 7 to 24, 2026. Term Two will open on April 27 and close on July 31 2026, spanning 14 weeks. The August holiday will extend from August 3 to 21.
The third term will begin on August 24, 2026, and close on November 6, 2026, lasting 11 weeks.
This will be followed by a December holiday running from November 9, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
Heads of institutions, education officers, and teachers are advised to adhere strictly to the term dates.
The circular directs that all heads of institutions, education officers, and teachers adhere strictly to the term dates.
Prof reiterated that activities and visits to secondary schools during Term Three 2026 remain banned,
continuing an existing policy aimed at reducing disruptions during examination periods.
By Joseph Mambili
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