The Ministry of Education has introduced significant changes to Kenya’s 2027 academic calendar, giving learners longer mid-term breaks while adjusting the duration of school terms and major holidays.

The revised schedule is expected to provide a better balance between classroom learning and resting periods following widespread cases of unrest reported in schools across the country in 2026.

Under the new arrangement, the second term will be reduced from 14 weeks to 13 weeks, while the third term will be extended from nine weeks to 10 weeks across the different school levels.

One of the major adjustments affects the half-term breaks. Learners in pre-primary, primary and junior schools will enjoy nine days away from school during the February break, compared to the previous five days. Senior and secondary school students will have a 10-day break.

The June half-term holiday has also been extended. Primary and junior school learners will have 11 days off, while those in senior and secondary schools will enjoy 12 days.

2027 First Term Dates

The 2027 academic year will officially begin on January 4 for all basic education institutions.

Pre-primary, primary and junior schools will close their first term on April 9 after 14 weeks of learning. Their February half-term break will run from February 19 to February 28, followed by the April holiday, which will begin on April 10 and end on May 2.

For senior and secondary schools, the first term will run from January 4 to April 2, lasting 13 weeks. Their February break will also fall between February 19 and February 28, with the April holiday scheduled to run from April 3 to May 2.

Second Term and August Holiday

All schools will reopen for the second term on May 3, with the term scheduled to end on July 30.

The June half-term break will run from June 9 to June 20, providing learners with an extended opportunity to rest before returning for the remainder of the term.

Following the closure of the second term, learners will proceed for the August holiday from July 31 to August 29. The break will last four weeks, representing an increase from the three weeks provided under the previous calendar.

Third Term and National Examinations

The third term will commence on August 30 and run until November 5, giving learners 10 weeks of classroom instruction.

During this period, primary and junior school learners will undertake their national assessments between November 1 and November 5.

The examinations will include the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA).

Meanwhile, the 2027 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations are scheduled to begin on November 8 and conclude on November 26.

 December Holiday Shortened

The revised calendar also introduces changes to the end-of-year holiday, reducing the December break from 10 weeks to eight weeks.

Pre-primary, primary and junior school learners will begin their holiday on November 8, 2027, while senior and secondary school students will start their break on November 6.

All learners are expected to report back to school on January 4, 2028, for the beginning of the next academic year.

Why the Ministry Changed the Calendar

The adjustments come after widespread unrest affected more than 200 schools during the second term of 2026, raising concerns about learner welfare, discipline and safety in educational institutions.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba had earlier indicated that the government would review the school calendar to ensure a more balanced distribution of learning periods and holidays.

In October 2026, the Ministry appointed a 52-member multi-stakeholder task force chaired by Professor Peter Mbithi to investigate the causes of school unrest and recommend measures to improve learner welfare, safety and discipline.

Issues identified during discussions included examination pressure, academic fatigue, leadership challenges, poor boarding conditions, peer pressure and substance abuse.

The revised 2027 calendar is part of the Ministry’s efforts to address these concerns by adjusting the school timetable and providing learners with longer breaks during the academic year.