The Ministry of Education has released the 2027 school calendar, outlining opening dates, holidays and national examinations.
According to a circular obtained by Media, schools will reopen for Term One on January 4, 2027.
The schedule covers pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools across the country.
Pre-primary, primary and junior schools will close on April 9, 2027.
Senior and secondary schools will end their first term earlier, on April 2, 2027.
The respective learning periods will last 14 weeks and 13 weeks.
Learners will also have a first-term half-term break running from February 19 to February 28, 2027.
After the April closing dates, learners will proceed for a three-week holiday before Term Two.
The circular was reportedly signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa on October 19, 2027.
However, that signing date appears inconsistent with the announcement of the 2027 calendar and requires verification.
2027 Second Term Dates
The second term will begin on May 3, 2027, and run until July 30.
The 13-week learning period will include a midterm break from June 9 to June 20.
Learners will then begin a four-week holiday on July 31, ending August 29, 2027.
Third Term and National Examinations
Schools will reopen on August 30, 2027, for the final 10-week learning period.
The third term is scheduled to end on November 5, 2027, without a midterm break.
Several national assessments will take place during this period, according to the ministry's schedule.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will run alongside three other national assessments.
These are the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) and Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA).
The four assessments are scheduled to run for five days, from November 1 to November 5, 2027.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will begin on November 8.
The national examinations will continue until November 26, 2027, covering three consecutive weeks.
The 2027 KCSE examinations will mark the final examination cycle under the 8-4-4 curriculum.
Kenya is transitioning fully to Competency-Based Education (CBE), which replaces the previous education system.
December Holiday Dates
The calendar lists the long holiday as beginning on November 6, 2027, and ending January 3, 2028.
This creates a scheduling detail requiring clarification because KCSE examinations continue until November 26.
The ministry's published dates should therefore be checked against the final official circular before schools make arrangements.
