MoE releases 2027 school calendar, sets January 4 reopening date

The Ministry of Education has set January 4, 2027, as the opening date for the first term in pre-primary, primary, junior and senior schools across the country.

In a circular, Principal Secretary for Basic Education John Ololtuaa directed regional, county and sub-county directors of education to ensure the calendar is distributed to all basic education institutions.

According to the schedule, learners in pre-primary, primary and junior schools will attend a 14-week first term, running from January 4 to April 9, 2027.

The first half-term break will run from February 19 to February 28, while the April holiday will begin on April 10 and end on May 2.

The second term will commence on May 3 and end on July 30, lasting 13 weeks. Learners will then proceed for the August holiday from July 31 to August 29 before returning for the third term on August 30.

The third term will last 10 weeks and end on November 5, with the December holiday beginning on November 8, 2027, and running until January 3, 2028.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) assessments for primary and junior school learners, including 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 scheduled to take place from November 1 to November 5, 2027.

For senior and secondary schools, the first term will also open on January 4 but close earlier, on April 2, giving learners a 13-week term.

The second term will run from May 3 to July 30, while the third term will begin on August 30 and end on November 5.

The 2027 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations are scheduled to run from November 8 to November 26, covering three weeks.

Secondary school learners will break for the December holidays on November 6 and are expected to return on January 3, 2028, according to the circular.

Diploma teacher training colleges will operate under a separate academic calendar, with the first term opening on January 5 and closing on April 2, 2027.

The colleges will resume on April 26 for the second term, which will run until July 30.