The Ministry of Education announced a new 2027 school calendar after unrest affected 204 schools earlier this year, aiming for a more balanced distribution of learning time.

Under the revised schedule, February half‑term breaks will increase to nine days for pre‑primary, primary and junior schools and to ten days for senior and secondary schools, while June half‑term breaks will rise to eleven and twelve days respectively.

The second term will be reduced from 14 weeks to 13 weeks for all school levels, and the third term will be extended from nine weeks to ten weeks.

The August holiday will be lengthened from three to four weeks, running from July 31 to August 29, while the December holiday will be shortened from ten weeks to eight weeks, ending on January 3, 2028.

Key dates for pre‑primary, primary and junior schools include a first term from 4 January to 9 April (14 weeks), a February half‑term from 19 to 28 February, and an April holiday from 10 April to 2 May.

Senior and secondary schools will start the first term on 4 January but finish on 2 April (13 weeks), with a four‑week April holiday from 3 April to 2 May.

All school levels commence the second term on 3 May and close on 30 July, followed by a June half‑term break from 9 to 20 June and the August holiday beginning 31 July.

The third term runs from 30 August to 5 November (10 weeks) for all schools, with national assessments scheduled between 1 and 5 November and KCSE exams from 8 to 26 November.

A separate calendar for Diploma Teachers Training Colleges was also released, detailing three terms and holidays that differ slightly from basic education institutions.

The circular, signed by Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa on 19 October 2026, instructed distribution of the new calendar to all basic education institutions.