- On Monday, October 13, the Ministry of Education released a comprehensive timetable for all schools
- According to the timetable, signed by Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, the first term for all schools will begin on January 5, 2026
- The Education Ministry gave the specific dates when national exams, such as the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), will start
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi – The Ministry of Education has announced the 2026 academic calendar, including national school examinations.
Source: Facebook
In a circular signed by Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, all schools are expected to open for the first term on January 5, 2026.
When will schools open for the first term?
The first term will have 13 weeks of learning and close on April 2, 2026, when learners proceed on a three-week April holiday before resuming for the second term on April 27, 2026.
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The second term will run for 14 weeks and end on July 31, 2026. Learners will take a half-term break between June 24 and June 28. Schools will then close on August 3 for a three-week holiday break, which ends on August 21, 2026.
Third Term and Exam Dates
According to the circular, schools will reopen for the third term on August 24, 2026, and close on October 23, 2026, after nine weeks of learning.
Examinations for the new competency-based curriculum will begin on October 26, 2026. The KPSEA will run from October 26 to 29, while the KILEA and KJSEA will also commence on October 26.
According to the government, the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) is set to commence on November 2, 2026.
When will the 2026 KCSE exams start?
The government indicated that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will kick off on November 2, 2026, and end on November 20, 2026.
According to Bitok, the December long holidays will run for 10 weeks, beginning on October 26 and ending on January 1, 2027.
Source: Facebook
How much does the government owe lecturers?
Still on education matters, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba clarified the government’s position on the ongoing lecturers’ strike.
Ogamba said KSh 7.2 billion has already been paid toward implementing the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Ogamba informed the National Assembly on October 8 that the ministry disbursed KSh 4.3 billion for October 2024 to June 2025, and a further KSh 2.73 billion for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
The remaining KSh 2.73 billion will be paid in the following fiscal year, fulfilling the KSh 9.76 billion agreement.
Despite the hard stance, CS Ogamba hinted that the strike, which has disrupted learning in public universities for nearly a month, will end soon.
Addressing the press on Monday, October 13, the Education CS disclosed that the government and the University Academic Staff Union (UASU) are making progress in talks to resolve the ongoing dispute.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
