As a parent, student, and even teacher in Kenya, knowing about the School climate is vital to ensuring that you are equally prepared for success during a particular Term. For the 2025 Academic calendar, the Ministry of Education has already updated the School calendar, which gives us an overview of the Academic Term dates as well as the National Examination Key dates.
The Kenya School Calendar, as we know it, is designed around a three-term system that balances instructional time, holidays, and exam periods to maximize learning outcomes while accommodating the needs of students, teachers, and parents. So, what is the 2025 academic School calendar? Term 1 begins on 6th January 2025, followed by Terms 2, emerging as the longest at 14 weeks, while Term 3 remains focused on final assessments
2025 Academic Term Dates
The Kenyan School Calendar for both Primary and Secondary schools is divided into three-term structures. As per the official announcements by the Ministry of Education through the office of the Principal Secretary, State Department of Basic Education, Term 1 runs from 6 January to 4 April 2025, spanning 13 weeks with a five-day mid-term break from 26 February to 2 March.
Term 2, the longest at 14 weeks, begins on 28th April and concludes on 1st August 2025, with a mid-term pause from 25th to 29th June. This extended period accommodates project-based learning under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and prepares junior secondary students for practical assessments. Schools leverage the additional week to address curriculum gaps identified in Term 1.
Term 3 spans 9 weeks (25th August – 24th October 2025) and prioritizes final assessments, including rehearsals for national exams. Unlike the first two terms, it excludes mid-term breaks to minimize disruptions during critical revision periods.
Similarly, the 2025 School Calendar also accommodates Three Holidays. The first is the April holiday (7th–25th April), which provides three weeks after Term 1. It is followed by the August break (4th–22nd August), which separates Terms 2 and 3. The final Holiday is the December holiday (27th October 2025 – 2nd January 2026), which will run for only 10 weeks
To help you visualize all these, below is a table summary for the 2025 Academic calendar:
| Period | Opening Date | Closing Date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term I | 6th January, 2025 | 4th April, 2025 | 13 Weeks |
| Half Term Break | 26th February, 2025 | 2nd March, 2025 | 5 Days |
| April Holiday | 7th April, 2025 | 25th April, 2025 | 3 Weeks |
| Term II | 28th April, 2025 | 1st August, 2025 | 14 Weeks |
| Half Term Break | 25th June, 2025 | 29th June, 2025 | 5 Days |
| August Holiday | 4th August, 2025 | 22nd August, 2025 | 3 Weeks |
| Term III | 25th August, 2025 | 24th October, 2025 | 9 Weeks |
| National Assessments | 27th October, 2025 | 21st November, 2025 | 3-4 Weeks |
| December Holiday | 27th October, 2025 | 2nd January, 2026 | 10 Weeks |
National Examinations and Key Dates 2025
Usually, at the end of every academic calendar, students from various levels of study all over the country are expected to sit for multiple examinations. In 2025, these exams are like KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA, KPLEA, and KCSE, which the Ministry of Education uses to determine the school term dates.
In the Past, I have also covered these exam dates in the Blog, and you can find the links to respective exams by checking the highlighted sections here. The first national exam in 2025 will be the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), which will run from 27th to 30th October 2025, to assess Grade 6 learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
During the same week, the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) ran from 27th to 31st October to be handled by Junior Secondary, which tests core subjects like mathematics and integrated science.
The final national exams are for senior students, starting with the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Primary Level Education Assessment (KPLEA), from 27th October to 6th November 2025. The last exams, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), will be held in late 2025 3rd to 21st November.
Questions And Answers
What is the school calendar for 2025 in Kenya?
There are three Term dates in Kenya, and they are as follows:
- Term 1: 6th January – 4th April (13 weeks)
- Term 2: 28th April – 1st August (14 weeks)
- Term 3: 25th August – 24th October (9 weeks)
How many weeks do we have in the second term in 2025?
The second term runs for 14 weeks, from 28th April to 1st August 2025. This includes a 5-day mid-term break (25th–29th June)
How long is Term 2 in Kenya?
Term 2 spans 14 weeks, making it the longest term in 2025. It includes 14 weeks of instruction and a 5-day mid-term break
What calendar works for 2025?
The Ministry of Education uses the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary schools, and the 8-4-4 system for secondary schools.
