Millions of learners across the country have returned to school after the five-day mid-term break in the second term, resuming classes for the final month before schools close for the August holiday on July 31.
The break, which ran from June 24 to June 28, marked the halfway point of Term 2, the longest term in the 2026 academic calendar at 14 weeks.
With just weeks left before the term ends, schools are expected to intensify learning activities and complete syllabus coverage ahead of a busy examination and co-curricular calendar.
Key Term 2 2026 Calendar Dates and Co-curricular Activities
According to the Ministry of Education’s calendar for basic education institutions, Term 2 2026 began on April 27 and will end on July 31.
Thereafter, learners will proceed for a three-week August holiday before returning for the final term of the year on August 24.
The reopening also marks the start of a busy season for co-curricular activities, with national sports and music competitions scheduled immediately after the close of the term.
The Term Two Schools’ National Games and Sports will be held in the Central Region, Kiambu County, at Thika Municipality.
A referees’ clinic has been scheduled for July 25 and 26, with participating teams expected to arrive on July 26.
The official opening ceremony will be held on July 28 at Mpesa Academy, with competitions running from July 28 to August 1.
Meanwhile, the closing ceremony and the departure of teams are scheduled for August 1 and 2.
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The Kenya Music Festivals will follow shortly after and will be held from August 1 to August 14 in the Western Region, Bungoma County, at Kibabii University.
The opening ceremony is set for August 2, while performances and competitions will take place from August 2 to August 10.
The gala concert is scheduled for August 11 and 12, followed by the state concert on August 13. Participants are expected to depart on August 14.
Kenyan schools will also participate in regional competitions under the Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA).
The FEASSA training camp will be held in Kajiado from August 2 to August 12 before teams travel to Tanzania for the East Africa games, which will run from August 12 to August 23.
Meanwhile, the East Africa Music, Dance and Drama Festival will be held in Soroti, Uganda, from August 15 to August 25.
The festival’s action days are scheduled for August 18 to August 23, with participants expected to depart on August 24.
Term 3 Dates and Exams Schedule
The 2026 academic calendar is divided into three terms. Term One ran from January 6 to April 2, spanning 13 weeks and included a five-day mid-term break from February 25 to March 1.
Term Three, which begins on August 24 and ends on October 23, is the shortest term of the year at just nine weeks.
Despite its shorter duration, it is expected to be the busiest as it precedes the administration of national examinations.
The Ministry of Education has scheduled the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) from October 26 to October 29.
The Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will be administered from October 26 to October 30.
At the same time, the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will run from October 26 to November 5.
Candidates sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination will begin their papers on November 2 and conclude on November 20.
Following the examinations, learners will proceed for the December holiday, which runs from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027, a period of ten weeks.
Also Read: Education CS Ogamba Orders Shortening of Second Term
Ministry Plans Overhaul of Term 2 Calendar
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced earlier that the Ministry of Education will review the school calendar from next year, especially Term 2.
The move is intended to ensure a more balanced academic schedule as the government rolled out a series of measures to address rising unrest in secondary schools.
The move comes amid concerns that the current second term is too long and may be contributing to learner fatigue, stress and indiscipline in schools.
The review is among a raft of interventions announced after disturbances were reported in 204 senior secondary schools across the country.
“Starting next academic year, the ministry shall rationalize the school calendar to ensure that the terms are balanced and that the second term is not as long as it has been,” Ogamba said.
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