The Ministry of Education has officially confirmed the 2026 third-term calendar, setting the stage for one of the busiest academic periods of the year as millions of learners prepare for national assessments and examinations.
The schedule outlines when schools will reopen, the duration of the term, and the dates for KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA, KPLEA and KCSE examinations.
The announcement also retains strict restrictions on activities in secondary schools during the examination period, underscoring the government's continued efforts to safeguard the integrity of national examinations across the country.
Education Ministry Third Term Dates Confirm KCSE and KJSEA Examination Timeline
The Ministry of Education has announced that the third term for all pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools will officially run from August 24 to October 23, 2026, giving learners nine weeks of classroom learning before the national examination season begins.
In a circular sent to Regional, County and Sub-county Directors of Education, the ministry instructed education officials to ensure the official 2026 academic calendar is circulated to all basic education institutions ahead of schools reopening.
The calendar provides schools, parents and candidates with a clear roadmap for the final academic term, which will largely focus on examination preparation before learners break for the December holidays.
After the nine-week learning period, candidates across different levels of education will begin sitting national assessments and examinations from October 26.
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will be conducted between October 26 and October 29, targeting learners completing primary school.
During the same period, learners undertaking the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will sit their examinations from October 26 to October 30.
Candidates preparing for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will begin their papers on October 26, with examinations running until November 5.
Secondary school candidates will then begin the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations from November 2 to November 20, marking the final national examination under the 2026 academic calendar.
Ministry Retains Ban on School Activities During Third Term
The ministry has also maintained its long-standing directive prohibiting visits and non-academic activities in secondary schools throughout the third term.
According to the circular, the restrictions remain fully in force and apply during the examination period.
The directive states:
"Activities and visits to secondary schools in the third term of 2026 remain banned as per the earlier circulars."
The policy aims to minimise disruptions as candidates prepare for national examinations while protecting the credibility of the examination process.
Students will therefore remain in school until the official end of the term before proceeding for the December holidays.
The restriction was first introduced during the tenure of former Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i as part of wider reforms intended to curb examination malpractice by limiting unnecessary interaction between candidates and outsiders during the examination period.
The ministry has continued implementing the measure in subsequent years as part of broader examination management strategies.
Three-Week Holiday to Prepare Learners for Final Academic Stretch
Before schools reopen, learners will enjoy a three-week holiday running from August 3 to August 21.
The break provides schools with time to complete administrative preparations while allowing candidates to revise ahead of the demanding third term.
Once schools reopen on August 24, attention will quickly shift toward completing the syllabus, revision programmes and final examination preparations.
After examinations conclude, learners will proceed for the December holiday beginning October 26 and remain away from school until January 1, 2027, bringing the 2026 academic year to a close.
The official calendar provides certainty for schools, teachers, parents and candidates while enabling education stakeholders to coordinate examination logistics, teaching schedules and revision programmes ahead of the country's nationwide assessments.
