The Ministry of Education has reworked the 2027 school calendar after unrest hit 204 schools this year, lengthening mid-term breaks and trimming the second term.
Under the changes, the second term drops from 14 weeks to 13, while the third term grows from nine weeks to 10. The August holiday rises from three weeks to four, and the December holiday is cut from 10 weeks to eight for all school levels.
The February half-term break goes from five days to nine for pre-primary, primary and junior school learners, and to 10 days for senior and secondary learners. The June half-term break increases from five days to 11 for primary and junior schools and to 12 for senior and secondary schools.
The review follows an announcement by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba in June that the Ministry would rebalance learning time after the unrest in 204 schools. The Ministry listed learner fatigue among the contributing factors, alongside examination pressure, leadership challenges, poor boarding conditions, peer pressure and substance abuse.
In October, Ogamba appointed a 52-member multi-stakeholder task team chaired by Prof Peter Mulwa Mbithi to investigate the unrest and recommend reforms on learner welfare, safety and discipline.
A circular dated October 19, 2026, signed by Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa, sets out the dates. Pre-primary, primary and junior schools open on January 4 and close the 14-week first term on April 9. Their February half-term runs from February 19 to 28, and the three-week April holiday from April 10 to May 2.
Senior and secondary schools also open on January 4 but close earlier, on April 2, after 13 weeks, with a four-week April holiday from April 3 to May 2.
All levels start the second term on May 3 and close on July 30 after 13 weeks. The June half-term runs from June 9 to 20, and the August holiday from July 31 to August 29. The 10-week third term opens on August 30 and closes on November 5.
Pre-primary, primary and junior school learners will sit 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) from November 1 to 5. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) runs for three weeks, from November 8 to 26.
The December holiday begins on November 8 for pre-primary, primary and junior schools and on November 6 for senior and secondary learners. It runs until January 3, 2028, and all learners report back on January 4.
A separate calendar covers Diploma Teachers Training Colleges. They open on January 5 and close the first 13-week term on April 2, followed by a three-week holiday from April 5 to 23. The 14-week second term runs from April 26 to July 30, then a three-week break from August 2 to 20. The 11-week third term runs from August 23 to November 12, and the eight-week December holiday runs from November 15, 2027, to January 9, 2028.
The new structure departs from 2025 and 2026, when the three terms lasted 13, 14 and nine weeks respectively. Ololtuaa directed that the circular be distributed to all basic education institutions.
Reader Discussion (0)
Sign in to comment