All Schools to Close By The Following Date for the December Holliday

Education remains one of the largest and most important sectors in Kenya, playing a key role in producing professionals who serve in various fields, including law, healthcare, teaching, technology, engineering, agriculture and many others.

Learning is currently underway in comprehensive schools, which were formerly divided into primary and secondary institutions. Schools are now in the third term of the 2026 academic year, which is the shortest term of the year.

The third term officially began on August 24, 2026, and will run for nine weeks. Unlike the first and second terms, which included half-term breaks, the third term does not have a half-term break. This is mainly because the term is shorter and coincides with preparations for the national examinations.

According to the official academic calendar released by the Ministry of Education, the third term is scheduled to end on October 23, 2026.

This means that comprehensive and senior schools will close on October 23. In secondary schools, Grade 10 learners and Form Three students will also break for the term on the same date, while Form Four candidates will remain in school to sit for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

The Form Four candidates are expected to begin their national examinations in early November. According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), non-candidate classes will not be required to remain in school during the examination period, allowing candidates to undertake their final national examinations without the presence of other learners.

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/infographics/2025-10-21-school-calendar-examination-dates-and-academic-terms-for-2026