The Ministry of Education has published the 2027 school calendar, outlining important dates for the reopening and closure of schools, term breaks and national examinations.
According to a circular obtained by Vantage Ke, all pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools will begin the first term on January 4, 2027.
However, the closing dates will differ depending on the level of education. Pre-primary, primary and junior schools will break for the April holidays on April 9, 2027, after completing 14 weeks of learning.
Senior and secondary schools, on the other hand, will close earlier on April 2, 2027, having completed 13 weeks of classes.
The circular, signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa on October 19, 2027, and addressed to Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education, also outlines the scheduled half-term breaks.
During the first term, learners will take a 10-day break beginning February 19 and ending February 28, 2027.
They will subsequently proceed for the April holidays before returning to school in May for the second term.
Second Term Dates
The Ministry has scheduled the second term to run for 13 weeks, starting May 3, 2027, and ending July 30, 2027.
Learners will have a mid-term break between June 9 and June 20, 2027, before returning to complete the remainder of the term.
At the end of the second term, schools will close for the August holidays, which will last four weeks, from July 31 to August 29, 2027.
Term Three Dates and National Exams
Schools will reopen on August 30, 2027, for the third term, which is scheduled to last 10 weeks and end on November 5, 2027.
Unlike the first two terms, the third term will not have a mid-term break, as schools will be conducting national examinations during this period.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) and Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will all take place between November 1 and November 5, 2027.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will commence on November 8 and run until November 26, 2027, covering three consecutive weeks.
The 2027 KCSE examinations will also mark the final cohort to sit national examinations under the 8-4-4 curriculum as the government completes the transition to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
December Holiday Dates
Following the conclusion of the third term and national examinations, learners will proceed for the long December holidays.
The break is scheduled to begin on November 6, 2027, and end on January 3, 2028, paving the way for the reopening of schools for the 2028 academic year.
