- Schools have been directed to limit external activities during the national examination and assessment season.
- Candidate prayer days involving parents and outsiders will not be allowed during the examination period.
- AGMs and prize-giving ceremonies must also be moved away from Third Term under the directive.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has imposed restrictions on prayer meetings, annual general meetings, prize-giving ceremonies and other school activities as institutions prepare for the 2026 national assessment and examination period.
The measures will apply throughout Third Term and are intended to reduce disruptions and limit interaction between candidates and outsiders during preparation and administration of national assessments.
Schools have also been directed to move AGMs, prize-giving events and dedicated candidate prayer days away from Third Term, while annual leave for education officers during the examination period has been cancelled.
The directive is contained in a circular dated September 3, 2026, issued by Principal Secretary for Basic Education John L. Ololtuaa to Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education. The circular updates an earlier directive dated August 27, 2025.
The Ministry said Third Term constitutes a critical national assessment and examination season and therefore requires tighter regulation of co-curricular, social and external engagement activities in schools.
“To facilitate effective preparation for and administration of these national assessments and examinations and to minimise disruption, the Ministry has deemed it necessary to regulate co-curricular, social and external-engagement activities throughout Third Term and the national assessment and examination period,” the circular states.
Under the directive, prayer sessions involving parents, outsiders or other external visitors will not be held for candidates during the examination period.
However, regular prayer and worship activities organised internally by school chaplains and teachers will continue.
“This measure is intended to minimise unnecessary interaction between candidates and external parties during the preparation and assessment period,” the Ministry said.
The directive means schools will have to reorganise several activities traditionally held ahead of national examinations.
Annual General Meetings will now be scheduled and conducted only during the First or Second Term of the school calendar year.
Prize-giving ceremonies, thanksgiving events and dedicated candidate prayer days must also be held during Second Term.
The Ministry further announced that annual leave for officers during the national assessment and examination period has been cancelled.
Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education have been instructed to communicate the directive to all schools within their jurisdictions and ensure compliance.
Five national assessments lined up
The circular also sets out the examination and assessment calendar released by the Kenya National Examinations Council.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination programme will run from Monday, October 19 to Friday, November 20, 2026.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment written papers will be administered from Monday, October 26 to Wednesday, October 28.
The Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment will run from Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30.
During the same period, Kenya Junior School Education Assessment written papers will be administered from Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30.
The Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment will take place from Monday, October 26 to Thursday, October 29.
The overlapping assessment calendar will place thousands of schools under examination-management arrangements simultaneously, particularly during the final week of October.
Ololtuaa directed education officials across the country to ensure that every school observes the measures.
“Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education shall bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all schools under their jurisdiction and ensure compliance,” the Principal Secretary said.
The directive was copied to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Secretary of the Teachers Service Commission.
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The restrictions are intended to create a controlled examination environment while allowing schools to continue internally organised worship activities without exposing candidates to unnecessary external engagement.
By Joseph Mambili
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