The Ministry of Education has released the 2027 academic calendar for Kenyan schools and teacher training colleges. Pre-primary, primary, junior and senior schools open for Term I on Monday 4 January 2027, and Term III ends on 5 November 2027. The calendar is set out in circular REF: MOE.HQS/3/13/3/ VOL III of 19 October 2026, issued by the Office of the Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education.
The circular is addressed to Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education. It covers pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools and teachers training colleges. Below are the dates for each level.
Pre-primary, primary and junior school term dates 2027
| Item | Opening | Closing | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term I | 4 January 2027 | 9 April 2027 | 14 weeks |
| Half-term | 19 February 2027 | 28 February 2027 | 9 days |
| April holiday | 10 April 2027 | 2 May 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term II | 3 May 2027 | 30 July 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | 9 June 2027 | 20 June 2027 | 11 days |
| August holiday | 31 July 2027 | 29 August 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term III | 30 August 2027 | 5 November 2027 | 10 weeks |
| December holiday | 8 November 2027 | 3 January 2028 | 8 weeks |
Senior and secondary school term dates 2027
| Item | Opening | Closing | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term I | 4 January 2027 | 2 April 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | 19 February 2027 | 28 February 2027 | 10 days |
| April holiday | 3 April 2027 | 2 May 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term II | 3 May 2027 | 30 July 2027 | 13 weeks |
| Half-term | 9 June 2027 | 20 June 2027 | 12 days |
| August holiday | 31 July 2027 | 29 August 2027 | 4 weeks |
| Term III | 30 August 2027 | 5 November 2027 | 10 weeks |
| KCSE 2027 | 8 November 2027 | 26 November 2027 | 3 weeks |
| December holiday | 6 November 2027 | 3 January 2028 | 8 weeks |
How the primary and secondary calendars differ
The two calendars share the same opening dates, half-term dates, Term II and Term III dates. The difference is in Term I and the April holiday:
- Primary and junior schools close Term I on 9 April 2027, one week after senior and secondary schools, which close on 2 April 2027.
- The April holiday is therefore three weeks for primary and junior schools and four weeks for senior and secondary schools.
- Both groups return for Term II on 3 May 2027.
National assessments and KCSE 2027
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) are scheduled for 1 to 5 November 2027. That is a period of five days, and it falls within Term III.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) runs from 8 November to 26 November 2027, a period of three weeks. KNEC administers these examinations, and the circular is copied to its Chief Executive Officer.
Diploma teachers training colleges calendar 2027
| Item | Opening | Closing | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term II | 5 January 2027 | 2 April 2027 | 13 weeks |
| April holiday | 5 April 2027 | 23 April 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term III | 26 April 2027 | 30 July 2027 | 14 weeks |
| August holiday | 2 August 2027 | 20 August 2027 | 3 weeks |
| Term I | 23 August 2027 | 12 November 2027 | 11 weeks |
| December holiday | 15 November 2027 | 8 January 2028 | 8 weeks |
Read Also: What KCSE, KJSEA & KPSEA Candidates Must Carry 2026
Frequently asked questions
When do schools open in January 2027?
Pre-primary, primary, junior, senior and secondary schools open on Monday 4 January 2027. Diploma teachers training colleges open on 5 January 2027.
When does Term III 2027 end?
Term III ends on 5 November 2027 for all schools. KCSE candidates sit their examinations from 8 November to 26 November 2027.
When is the long holiday after Term II?
The August holiday runs from 31 July to 29 August 2027, a period of four weeks.