The Ministry of Education has released the 2026 school term dates and confirmed a mid-term break (half term) for all basic education institutions. Parents, teachers and school administrators should note the exact dates, inspection requirements, and rules for upcoming athletics and competitions to ensure smooth term operations.
Key Takeaways
- All basic schools start half term on 25 February 2026 with an effective break from 24 February and resume on 2 March 2026.
- Education teams are conducting school inspections this week; teachers must have professional documents updated and ready.
- Strict age limits and birth-certificate requirements apply for athletics and competitions this term.
- Full 2026 term dates for basic education and diploma teacher training colleges are published below for planning purposes.
Overview of the half term and resumption
According to the released calendar, all nursery, primary, junior and senior schools will observe the half term period beginning 25 February 2026. Practically, many schools will send learners home on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, and learners should report back on Monday, 2 March 2026 to complete the remainder of Term I.
Note: some secondary schools have a history of adjusting dates locally and may start their mid-term break at slightly different times. Parents should watch for official notices from their child’s school.
School inspections and required teacher documents
A joint inspection team made up of TSC county and sub-county directors, Curriculum Support Officers and Ministry of Education officers is completing rounds of school visits. The inspections focus on sanitation, staffing levels, teacher preparedness and availability of teaching and learning materials.
School Heads of Institutions (HOIs) must inform teaching staff in advance so that the following professional documents are available and up to date:
- Schemes of Work
- Lesson Plans
- Class Attendance Register
- Progress Records
- Record of Work Covered
- School logbooks and attendance books that show clocking in and out
Heads and deputies are expected to maintain lesson observation forms and registers to support teacher appraisal and monitoring.
Sports and athletics rules for the term
After the half term, athletics and games activities will resume, mostly starting at cluster level. Games teachers have attended clinics outlining the rules. The Ministry has reinforced strict eligibility rules to protect fairness and safety.
- Primary school participants must be under 12 years.
- Junior school participants must be under 15 years.
- Secondary school participants must be under 18 years; adults are banned from competing.
- Birth certificates are mandatory for all participants; teachers must not forge documents.
Primary activities include kids athletics (8–11 years), gymnastics, track and field, and cross country. Junior schools will run swimming events, athletics, rugby sevens and basketball five-a-side among others. Events lists include track distances, relays, hurdles and field events appropriate to each age group.
How parents and teachers should prepare
Parents should confirm the exact dates with their child’s school and prepare for the half term break. Teachers should ensure their professional records are updated before inspection visits and maintain accurate attendance and lesson records.
For teachers and learners following the competency-based curriculum, preparation materials and practice exams can help maintain learning momentum during the break. For example, teachers can use free CBC exams and teaching notes to create short assignments over the mid-term period.
2026 term dates for basic education institutions
- Term I: 6 January 2026 – 2 April 2026 (13 weeks)
- Half term: 25 February 2026 – 1 March 2026 (5 days)
- April Holiday: 7 April 2026 – 24 April 2026 (3 weeks)
- Term II: 27 April 2026 – 31 July 2026 (14 weeks)
- Half term: 24 June 2026 – 28 June 2026 (5 days)
- August Holiday: 3 August 2026 – 21 August 2026 (3 weeks)
- Term III: 24 August 2026 – 23 October 2026 (9 weeks)
- Assessment windows (KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA, KPLEA and KCSE) occur from late October through November as scheduled by KNEC.
- December Holiday: 26 October 2026 – 1 January 2027 (10 weeks, note overlap with exam windows)
Diploma teacher training colleges academic calendar 2026
- Term I: 6 January 2026 – 2 April 2026 (13 weeks)
- April Holiday: 7 April 2026 – 24 April 2026 (3 weeks)
- Term II: 27 April 2026 – 31 July 2026 (14 weeks)
- August Holiday: 3 August 2026 – 21 August 2026 (3 weeks)
- Term III: 24 August 2026 – 6 November 2026 (11 weeks)
- December Holiday: 9 November 2026 – 1 January 2027 (8 weeks)
Resources and useful links
Teachers and parents preparing learners for national exams and assessments can access free practice materials and past papers. Recommended resources include free KCPE exams for primary-level practice and KCSE revision exams for secondary learners.
Monitor official school communications for any local adjustments to the calendar, keep professional documents current for inspections, and ensure athletes meet the age and documentation requirements before competitions.
