The Kenyan school calendar has been a major part of the education system for years as it helps students as well as stakeholders in the country to plan ahead. To this end, the Ministry of Education has made efforts to restore normalcy especially after the world underwent a global pandemic that halted normal learning across institutions. 2025 reflects efforts made by the government thus far, but we are also facing a shift from the old 8-4-4 system to the Competency based curriculum commonly known as CBC.
Background and Context
Kenya has a system of timing the school year in three semesters that are usually called terms. The school calendar has been changed in the previous years to accommodate the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; but the 2025 calendar returns to the previous schedule. This is a major achievement as it provides enough time for teaching and learning while at the same time adhering to the national examinations and holidays.
Term Dates for 2025
The Ministry of Education has outlined the following term dates for both primary and secondary schools:
Term 1:
- Opening Date: January 6, 2025
- Closing Date: April 4, 2025
- Duration: 13 weeks
- Half-Term Break: February 26 – March 2, 2025
Term 2:
- Opening Date: April 28, 2025
- Closing Date: August 1, 2025
- Duration: 14 weeks
- Half-Term Break: June 25 – June 29, 2025
Term 3:
- Opening Date: August 25, 2025
- Closing Date: October 24, 2025
- Duration: 9 weeks
- Half-Term Break: No break for Term 3, as it focuses on preparation for national exams.
National Examination Dates
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) are pivotal moments in the academic calendar. The Ministry of Education has scheduled the following dates:
- KPSEA: October 27 – October 30, 2025 (4 days)
- KILEA: October 27 – October 31, 2025 (5 days)
- KJSEA & KPLEA: October 27 – November 6, 2025 (9 days)
- KCSE: November 3 – November 21, 2025 (3 weeks)
Holiday Breaks and Other Key Events
The school calendar also includes holiday breaks and special events:
- April Holiday: April 7 – April 25, 2025 (3 weeks)
- August Holiday: August 4 – August 22, 2025 (3 weeks)
- December Holiday: October 27, 2025 – January 2, 2026 (10 weeks)
Some of the public holidays that are usually celebrated within the course of the school terms include Madaraka Day which is celebrated on the 1st of June and Mashujaa Day which is celebrated on the 20th of October and these holidays will also be observed while following the schedule.
Private and International Schools
It is important to note that, private and international schools’ calendar may slightly differ from the one provided above especially those operating on the British or American system. In this regard, parents are requested to consult their respective institutions to get the dates correctly.