The Ministry of Education has released the 2027 academic calendar, outlining school opening dates, closing dates, half-term breaks, holiday periods and national examination schedules for pre-primary, primary, junior and senior secondary schools.
According to a circular dated October 19, 2026, issued by the State Department for Basic Education, schools will reopen for the First Term on Monday, January 4, 2027.
The calendar also provides important dates for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Primary Leaving Examination (KPLEA) and the 2027 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
The announcement is important for learners, parents, teachers, school administrators and other education stakeholders preparing for the 2027 academic year.
The circular, referenced MOE.HQS/3/13/3/VOL III, was addressed to Regional Directors of Education, County Directors of Education and Sub-County Directors of Education.
2027 school opening and closing dates for primary and junior schools
According to the Ministry of Education’s 2027 academic calendar, pre-primary, primary and junior schools will operate on a three-term system.
The First Term will run for 14 weeks, beginning on January 4 and ending on April 9, 2027.
Learners will then proceed for the April holiday before returning for the Second Term on May 3, 2027.
The Second Term will last 13 weeks and close on July 30, 2027. The August holiday will follow before learners return for the Third Term on August 30.
Below is the breakdown of the 2027 school term dates for primary and junior schools.
| School calendar activity | Opening date | Closing date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term One | January 4, 2027 | April 9, 2027 | 14 weeks |
| Half-term | February 19, 2027 | February 28, 2027 | 9 days |
| April holiday | April 10, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term Two | May 3, 2027 | July 30, 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | June 9, 2027 | June 20, 2027 | 11 days |
| August holiday | July 31, 2027 | August 29, 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term Three | August 30, 2027 | November 5, 2027 | 10 weeks |
| KPSEA/KILEA/KJSEA/KPLEA | November 1, 2027 | November 5, 2027 | 5 days |
| December holiday | November 8, 2027 | January 3, 2028 | 8 weeks |
The dates provide parents with an opportunity to plan school fees, transport, accommodation and other educational expenses ahead of the new academic year.
2027 secondary school term dates and KCSE examination schedule
The Ministry has also outlined the academic calendar for senior and secondary schools, including the opening and closing dates for all three terms.
Secondary schools will open for Term One on January 4, 2027, and close on April 2, 2027.
The first term will last 13 weeks, followed by the April holiday, which will run from April 3 to May 2, 2027.
Term Two will begin on May 3 and end on July 30, 2027. Learners will then proceed for the August holiday before returning for the final term.
The Third Term will start on August 30 and close on November 5, 2027.
The 2027 KCSE examinations are scheduled to begin on November 8 and run until November 26, 2027.
The following table provides the complete 2027 secondary school academic calendar.
| Activity | Opening date | Closing date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term One | January 4, 2027 | April 2, 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | February 19, 2027 | February 28, 2027 | 10 days |
| April holiday | April 3, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term Two | May 3, 2027 | July 30, 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | June 9, 2027 | June 20, 2027 | 12 days |
| August holiday | July 31, 2027 | August 29, 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term Three | August 30, 2027 | November 5, 2027 | 10 weeks |
| KCSE 2027 | November 8, 2027 | November 26, 2027 | 3 weeks |
| December holiday | November 6, 2027 | January 3, 2028 | 8 weeks |
The November examination period will be particularly important for candidates sitting the 2027 KCSE examinations as they prepare to complete their secondary school education.
KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA and KPLEA examination dates for 2027
The Ministry has set aside November 1 to November 5, 2027, for the KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA and KPLEA assessments.
The examinations will take place during the final school term, which is scheduled to close on November 5.
The five-day assessment window will be important for learners in primary and junior school levels under Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
Parents and teachers should take note of the dates as they plan revision programmes, school activities and examination preparations.
2027 academic calendar for Diploma Teachers Training Colleges
The Ministry has also provided a separate academic calendar for Diploma Teachers Training Colleges.
Unlike primary and secondary schools, the colleges will follow an academic schedule beginning with Term II in January 2027.
The first college term will open on January 5 and close on April 2, 2027, lasting 13 weeks.
The institutions will then proceed for the April holiday before opening Term III on April 26, 2027.
Here is the complete schedule:
| Activity | Opening date | Closing date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term II | January 5, 2027 | April 2, 2027 | 13 weeks |
| April holiday | April 5, 2027 | April 23, 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term III | April 26, 2027 | July 30, 2027 | 14 weeks |
| August holiday | August 2, 2027 | August 20, 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term I | August 23, 2027 | November 12, 2027 | 11 weeks |
| December holiday | November 15, 2027 | January 8, 2028 | 8 weeks |
The calendar provides teacher trainees and college administrators with a schedule for organising academic activities throughout the year.
What parents, teachers and school administrators should know
The release of the 2027 Kenya school calendar gives education stakeholders an opportunity to prepare for the new academic year well in advance.
Parents should use the dates to organise school fees payments, shopping, transport and other requirements before schools reopen.
Teachers and school administrators will also need to align schemes of work, lesson plans, assessments and institutional programmes with the official term dates.
For KCSE candidates, the November 8 examination commencement date provides an important planning reference for revision and preparation.
Similarly, schools offering primary and junior school education should prepare for the November 1 to November 5 assessment period.
The Ministry’s circular was signed by John L. Ololtuaa, CBS, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Basic Education.
It was copied to the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Education, the Chief Executive Officers of the Teachers Service Commission and Kenya National Examinations Council, as well as the Council of Governors.
Frequently asked questions about the 2027 Kenya school calendar
1. When will schools reopen in Kenya in 2027?
Pre-primary, primary, junior and secondary schools will reopen on January 4, 2027.
2. When will Term One end in 2027?
Term One will end on April 9 for pre-primary, primary and junior schools, while secondary schools will close on April 2.
3. When will schools open for Term Two in 2027?
Schools will reopen for Term Two on May 3, 2027.
4. When will Term Three begin in 2027?
The Third Term will begin on August 30, 2027.
5. When will KCSE 2027 examinations begin?
According to the circular, the 2027 KCSE examinations will begin on November 8 and end on November 26, 2027.
6. When will KPSEA and KJSEA examinations take place in 2027?
The scheduled assessment period is November 1 to November 5, 2027.
7. When will the 2027 December holidays begin?
The December holiday will begin on November 8 for primary and junior schools and November 6 for secondary schools.
The Ministry’s 2027 academic calendar is an important planning document for schools, teachers, parents and learners across the country. Education stakeholders should keep the circular for reference when preparing for the 2027 school year.
The article has been cross-checked against reporting published on November 4–5, 2026, including Daily Nation, Pulse Kenya and Kenyans.co.ke. One important news angle is that the Ministry has extended the February and June half-term breaks while redistributing learning weeks across the three terms. Daily Nation+2
2027 School Calendar: New Half-Term Dates, Holidays and KCSE Timetable Revealed
The Ministry of Education has released the 2027 academic calendar, announcing new school opening dates, closing dates, half-term breaks, holiday periods and national examination schedules for learners across Kenya.
According to a circular dated October 19, 2026, issued by the State Department for Basic Education, schools will reopen for the First Term on Monday, January 4, 2027.
The calendar covers pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools, as well as Diploma Teachers Training Colleges.
It also provides important dates for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) and the 2027 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
One of the notable changes in the 2027 academic calendar is the extension of half-term breaks in February and June. Learners will also have a four-week August holiday, while the December holiday will last eight weeks.
The new schedule provides parents, teachers, learners and school administrators with an opportunity to plan for the coming academic year.
The circular, referenced MOE.HQS/3/13/3/VOL III, was addressed to Regional Directors of Education, County Directors of Education and Sub-County Directors of Education.
2027 school opening and closing dates for primary and junior schools
According to the Ministry of Education’s 2027 school calendar, pre-primary, primary and junior schools will operate on a three-term system.
The First Term will run for 14 weeks, beginning on January 4 and ending on April 9, 2027.
Learners will then proceed for the April holiday, which will run from April 10 to May 2, 2027.
The Second Term will begin on May 3 and close on July 30, lasting 13 weeks.
After the Second Term, learners will proceed for the August holiday before returning for the Third Term on August 30, 2027.
Below is the breakdown of the 2027 school term dates for primary and junior schools.
| School calendar activity | Opening date | Closing date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term I | January 4, 2027 | April 9, 2027 | 14 weeks |
| Half-term | February 19, 2027 | February 28, 2027 | 9 days |
| April holiday | April 10, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term II | May 3, 2027 | July 30, 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | June 9, 2027 | June 20, 2027 | 11 days |
| August holiday | July 31, 2027 | August 29, 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term III | August 30, 2027 | November 5, 2027 | 10 weeks |
| KPSEA/KILEA/KJSEA/KPLEA | November 1, 2027 | November 5, 2027 | 5 days |
| December holiday | November 8, 2027 | January 3, 2028 | 8 weeks |
The dates provide parents with an opportunity to plan school fees, transport, accommodation and other educational expenses ahead of the new academic year.
2027 secondary school term dates and KCSE examination schedule
The Ministry has also outlined the academic calendar for senior and secondary schools, including the opening and closing dates for all three terms.
Secondary schools will open for Term One on January 4, 2027, and close on April 2, 2027.
The First Term will last 13 weeks, followed by the April holiday, which will run from April 3 to May 2, 2027.
Term Two will begin on May 3 and end on July 30, 2027. Learners will then proceed for the August holiday before returning for the final term.
The Third Term will start on August 30 and close on November 5, 2027.
Meanwhile, the 2027 KCSE examinations are scheduled to begin on November 8 and run until November 26, 2027.
The following table provides the complete 2027 secondary school academic calendar.
| Activity | Opening date | Closing date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term I | January 4, 2027 | April 2, 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | February 19, 2027 | February 28, 2027 | 10 days |
| April holiday | April 3, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term II | May 3, 2027 | July 30, 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | June 9, 2027 | June 20, 2027 | 12 days |
| August holiday | July 31, 2027 | August 29, 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term III | August 30, 2027 | November 5, 2027 | 10 weeks |
| KCSE 2027 | November 8, 2027 | November 26, 2027 | 3 weeks |
| December holiday | November 6, 2027 | January 3, 2028 | 8 weeks |
The November examination period will be particularly important for candidates sitting the 2027 KCSE examinations as they prepare to complete their secondary school education.
2027 KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA and KPLEA examination dates
The Ministry has set aside November 1 to November 5, 2027, for the KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA and KPLEA assessments.
The five-day assessment period will take place during the final school term, which is scheduled to close on November 5.
The assessments are important for learners in primary and junior school levels under Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
Schools will therefore need to organise their academic programmes and revision activities in preparation for the November assessment period.
Parents and teachers should also take note of the dates as they plan revision programmes, school activities and examination preparations.
2027 academic calendar for Diploma Teachers Training Colleges
The Ministry has provided a separate academic calendar for Diploma Teachers Training Colleges.
Unlike primary and secondary schools, the colleges will follow an academic schedule beginning with Term II in January 2027.
The first college term will open on January 5 and close on April 2, 2027, lasting 13 weeks.
The institutions will then proceed for the April holiday before opening Term III on April 26, 2027.
Here is the complete schedule:
| Activity | Opening date | Closing date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term II | January 5, 2027 | April 2, 2027 | 13 weeks |
| April holiday | April 5, 2027 | April 23, 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term III | April 26, 2027 | July 30, 2027 | 14 weeks |
| August holiday | August 2, 2027 | August 20, 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term I | August 23, 2027 | November 12, 2027 | 11 weeks |
| December holiday | November 15, 2027 | January 8, 2028 | 8 weeks |
The calendar provides teacher trainees and college administrators with a schedule for organising academic activities throughout the year.
Why the Ministry has adjusted the 2027 school calendar
The 2027 academic calendar introduces changes to the distribution of learning weeks and school holidays.
The changes come after widespread school unrest witnessed during the second term of 2026.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba had indicated that the Ministry intended to rationalise the school calendar to achieve a better distribution of learning time.
Reports have linked learner fatigue, examination pressure, poor boarding conditions, leadership challenges and other welfare concerns to the unrest experienced in some schools.
The Ministry’s revised schedule provides longer half-term breaks in February and June.
Under the new arrangement, primary and junior school learners will have nine days for the February half-term and 11 days for the June break.
Senior and secondary school learners will have 10 days in February and 12 days in June.
The August holiday will also increase to four weeks, while the December holiday will be reduced to eight weeks.
The adjustments are intended to redistribute learning time and provide learners with additional breaks during the academic year.
What parents, teachers and school administrators should know
The release of the 2027 Kenya school calendar gives education stakeholders an opportunity to prepare for the new academic year well in advance.
Parents should use the dates to organise school fees payments, shopping, transport and other requirements before schools reopen.
Teachers and school administrators will also need to align schemes of work, lesson plans, assessments and institutional programmes with the official term dates.
For KCSE candidates, the November 8 examination commencement date provides an important planning reference for revision and preparation.
Similarly, schools offering primary and junior school education should prepare for the November 1 to November 5 assessment period.
The Ministry’s circular was signed by John L. Ololtuaa, CBS, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Basic Education.
It was copied to the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Education, the Chief Executive Officers of the Teachers Service Commission and Kenya National Examinations Council, as well as the Council of Governors.
Frequently asked questions about the 2027 Kenya school calendar
1. When will schools reopen in Kenya in 2027?
Pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools will reopen on January 4, 2027.
2. When will Term One end in 2027?
Term One will end on April 9 for pre-primary, primary and junior schools, while senior and secondary schools will close on April 2.
3. When will schools open for Term Two in 2027?
Schools will reopen for Term Two on May 3, 2027.
4. When will Term Three begin in 2027?
The Third Term will begin on August 30, 2027.
5. When will KCSE 2027 examinations begin?
According to the Ministry’s circular, the 2027 KCSE examinations will begin on November 8 and end on November 26, 2027.
6. When will KPSEA and KJSEA examinations take place in 2027?
The scheduled assessment period is November 1 to November 5, 2027.
7. When will the 2027 December holidays begin?
The December holiday will begin on November 8 for pre-primary, primary and junior schools and November 6 for senior and secondary schools.
The Ministry’s 2027 academic calendar is an important planning document for schools, teachers, parents and learners across the country. Education stakeholders should keep the circular for reference when preparing for the 2027 school year.
