By the 254.ke Newsroom
Kenyan schools will open for Term One of the 2027 academic year on Monday, January 4, 2027, and the last term will close on November 5, 2027, according to a Ministry of Education circular dated October 19, 2026. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams run from November 8 to November 26, 2027, and the December holiday that follows ends on January 3, 2028.
The circular, signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa, was reported on November 4, 2026, and covers pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools, plus diploma teacher training colleges.
What are the 2027 school term dates in Kenya?
All learners start on the same day, but term lengths differ slightly between primary/junior schools and senior/secondary schools because Term One closes a week earlier for the senior level. Here is the calendar as reported from the circular.
Pre-primary, primary and junior schools
| Period | Dates (2027) | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Term One | Jan 4 to Apr 9 | 14 weeks |
| First half-term | Feb 19 to Feb 28 | 9 days |
| April holiday | Apr 10 to May 2 | 3 weeks |
| Term Two | May 3 to Jul 30 | 13 weeks |
| Second half-term | Jun 9 to Jun 20 | 11 days |
| August holiday | Jul 31 to Aug 29 | 4 weeks |
| Term Three | Aug 30 to Nov 5 | 10 weeks |
| December holiday | Nov 8 to Jan 3, 2028 | 8 weeks |
Senior and secondary schools
| Period | Dates (2027) | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Term One | Jan 4 to Apr 2 | 13 weeks |
| First half-term | Feb 19 to Feb 28 | 10 days |
| April holiday | Apr 3 to May 2 | 4 weeks |
| Term Two | May 3 to Jul 30 | 13 weeks |
| Second half-term | Jun 9 to Jun 20 | 12 days |
| August holiday | Jul 31 to Aug 29 | 4 weeks |
| Term Three | Aug 30 to Nov 5 | 10 weeks |
| December holiday | Nov 6 to Jan 3, 2028 | 8 weeks |
Reports differ slightly on the start of the December break. Pulse Kenya lists November 8 for primary and junior schools and November 6 for secondary, while Kenyans.co.ke gives November 6 for the break generally. Parents should confirm the exact date with their school.
When are the 2027 national exams?
- KPSEA, KJSEA, KILEA and KPLEA assessments: November 1 to November 5, 2027 (five days).
- KCSE: November 8 to November 26, 2027 (three weeks).
Term Three has no half-term break, because the national assessments fall inside it. Kenyans.co.ke noted that the 2027 KCSE will be the last sitting under the 8-4-4 curriculum as the government completes its move to Competency-Based Education.
How does this compare with this year’s exams?
The 2026 KCSE written papers began on November 2 with more than one million candidates, as 254.ke reported in KCSE 2026 Written Papers Start Nov 2: 1,048,355 Candidates. This week’s papers are covered in KCSE 2026 Timetable This Week. Readers following higher education can also see where things stand in Lecturers’ Strike Kenya: When Will Universities Reopen?.
What about teacher training colleges?
Diploma Teachers Training Colleges follow a separate schedule. Pulse Kenya’s summary of the circular lists the opening session running January 5 to April 2, 2027, the next term from April 26 to July 30, and the final term from August 23 to November 12, with the December holiday starting November 15 and ending January 8, 2028. Colleges should check the circular for how those terms are numbered.
Key dates at a glance
- Schools open: Monday, January 4, 2027
- First half-term: February 19 to 28
- Term Two opens: May 3
- Second half-term: June 9 to 20
- Term Three opens: August 30
- Assessments (KPSEA/KJSEA etc.): November 1 to 5
- KCSE: November 8 to 26
Frequently asked questions
When do schools open in January 2027?
All pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools open for Term One on Monday, January 4, 2027.
When do secondary schools close for the first term in 2027?
Senior and secondary schools close on April 2, 2027, after 13 weeks. Primary and junior schools close on April 9, after 14 weeks.
When will KCSE 2027 be done?
KCSE 2027 is scheduled from November 8 to November 26, 2027.
Is there a half-term in Term Three?
No. Term Three runs 10 weeks from August 30 to November 5 with no half-term break, because national assessments are held in that term.
Where can I read the official calendar?
The calendar was issued through a Ministry of Education circular. Official updates are published by the Ministry of Education.
Sources: Ministry of Education circular dated October 19, 2026, as reported by Kenyans.co.ke and Pulse Kenya (November 4, 2026); Education News Hub (November 3, 2026). Dates may be adjusted by the ministry.
