Schools to Reopen on January 4 as Government Sets Dates for Final 8-4-4 KCSE Year

Schools will reopen on January 4, 2027, under a new academic calendar that sets out the year’s term dates, holiday breaks and national examinations — including the final KCSE examinations under the 8-4-4 system.

The Ministry of Education has scheduled three terms for pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools. The calendar was issued in a circular dated October 19, 2026, signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary John Lekakeny Ololtuaa and sent to regional, county and sub-county education directors.

For parents, the early release provides time to plan school fees, transport, accommodation and other costs ahead of the January reopening. For learners in examination classes, it also offers a clear outline of the final months leading up to the national assessment season.

The year will carry added significance for secondary school candidates. The 2027 KCSE is expected to be the last examination under the long-running 8-4-4 curriculum as Kenya completes its transition to Competency-Based Education (CBE).

First term begins in January

Pre-primary, primary and junior schools will attend a 14-week first term, running from January 4 to April 9, 2027.

Their first half-term break is scheduled for February 19 to February 28. The April holiday will then run from April 10 to May 2, giving learners three weeks away from school.

Senior and secondary schools will also reopen on January 4, but their first term will end earlier, on April 2. This gives them a 13-week term, followed by a four-week April holiday ending on May 2.

The different closing dates mean families with children in different school levels will need to take note of the separate arrangements.

Second term runs from May to July

All the listed school categories will begin the second term on May 3, 2027.

The term will run for 13 weeks and close on July 30. A mid-term break is scheduled for June 9 to June 20.

Learners will then begin the August holiday, which runs from July 31 to August 29. Schools are expected to reopen for the third term on August 30.

November brings national assessments and final KCSE

The third term will run for 10 weeks, from August 30 to November 5.

For primary and junior school learners, 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) are scheduled for November 1 to November 5.

The KCSE examination period will follow from November 8 to November 26, covering three weeks.

The 2027 KCSE will mark the end of an examination system that has shaped Kenyan secondary education for decades. The final cohort under 8-4-4 is expected to sit the examination as the country moves towards the full implementation of CBE.

The change does not mean national assessments will end. Instead, the education system is moving towards assessment arrangements designed for the competency-based curriculum, which is already being rolled out across schools.

An eight-week end-of-year break

The calendar places the end-of-year holiday between November 2027 and January 2028.

For pre-primary, primary and junior schools, the break is listed as November 8, 2027, to January 3, 2028. Senior and secondary schools have a November 6 start date, with the same January 3 reopening date.

The holiday is listed as eight weeks, giving schools and families a timetable for planning the close of the academic year.

However, the secondary-school schedule contains a point that requires clarification: its holiday is listed as beginning on November 6, while KCSE examinations continue until November 26. Candidates sitting the examination will, of course, still need to attend their scheduled papers. The Ministry may need to clarify how the holiday date applies to examination candidates and other learners.

There is also a small difference in the stated half-term durations for primary and secondary schools, despite the same February and June date ranges appearing in both schedules.

What parents and schools should note

The January 4 reopening date applies across the listed basic education levels, but term-ending dates and holiday arrangements are not identical for every category.

Parents should therefore check the section of the calendar that applies to their children rather than assume all schools will close on the same dates.

The 2027 schedule gives schools, teachers and families an early framework for the year. It also marks a significant moment in Kenya’s education transition, with the final 8-4-4 KCSE examinations set to take place in November.

For thousands of learners, the new year will be another academic cycle. For the final 8-4-4 candidates, it will be the last chance to sit an examination that has defined the country’s secondary school system for generations.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.