- The Ministry of Education has released the final term calendar, with schools set to reopen on August 24 and close on October 23.
- National assessments and examinations, including KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE, will begin immediately after the term ends.
- The Ministry has maintained the ban on non-essential school activities to safeguard examination integrity during the final term.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has officially unveiled the academic calendar for the final term of the 2026 school year, setting the stage for one of the busiest and most critical periods in Kenya’s education sector as millions of learners prepare for national assessments and examinations.
In a circular addressed to Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education, the Ministry directed that the approved 2026 academic calendar be shared with all basic education institutions to ensure uniform implementation across the country.
Under the schedule, learners in pre-primary, primary, junior school, senior school and secondary schools will resume learning on Monday, August 24, 2026, following the ongoing three-week August holiday. The term will run for nine weeks, ending on October 23, before candidates transition directly into the national assessment and examination season.
The third term is traditionally regarded as the most demanding period in the academic year, with schools expected to intensify revision programmes, complete syllabus coverage and prepare candidates for high-stakes examinations that determine progression to the next levels of learning.
National assessments begin in October
Immediately after the close of the term, learners will begin sitting various national assessments administered under Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will be conducted from October 26 to October 29, while the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) is scheduled for October 26 to October 30.
Candidates undertaking the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will sit their assessments between October 26 and November 5.
Attention will then shift to secondary school candidates, with the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations scheduled to run from November 2 to November 20, marking the final national examination under the year’s academic calendar.
Following the completion of classroom learning, learners will proceed for the long December holiday beginning October 26, 2026, with schools expected to reopen in early January 2027 for the commencement of the new academic year.
Third-term restrictions remain in force
As preparations for the examinations gather momentum, the Ministry has reaffirmed that the ban on activities and visits to secondary schools during the third term remains in force.
The directive prohibits academic tours, entertainment events, benchmarking visits and other non-essential activities that could disrupt learning or compromise examination security during the final weeks before national examinations.
Education officials say the restriction is intended to provide candidates with a calm and focused learning environment while strengthening measures aimed at safeguarding the integrity and credibility of Kenya’s national examinations.
The policy was first introduced during the tenure of former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as part of comprehensive reforms that significantly reduced examination malpractice by limiting unnecessary interaction between candidates and external visitors during the examination period.
Parents urged to support candidates
Parents, teachers and school administrators have now been urged to support learners by ensuring they make effective use of the remaining weeks before examinations begin. Education experts have also encouraged candidates to maintain disciplined study schedules, observe examination regulations and prioritise their mental and physical well-being during this crucial period.
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With the official academic calendar now confirmed, schools across the country are entering the decisive phase of the 2026 academic year. For thousands of examination candidates, the coming weeks will determine their transition to the next stage of education, making the final term one of the most significant milestones in their academic journey.
By Hillary Muhalya
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