The Ministry of Education has officially released the 2025 school calendar, detailing term dates, half-term breaks, examination schedules, and holiday periods. The calendar, which applies to both public and private schools, will see schools reopen for the first term on January 6, 2025. It also includes key dates for national examinations such as the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Prevocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA), and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Term Dates Overview
Term 1: January 6 – April 4, 2025
The first term will run for 13 weeks, starting on January 6 and concluding on April 4, 2025. To break the term’s intensity, a five-day half-term is scheduled from February 26 to March 2. Learners will then proceed on a three-week holiday from April 7 to April 25.
Term 2: April 28 – August 1, 2025
The second term will span 14 weeks, beginning on April 28 and ending on August 1. A mid-term break is scheduled from June 25 to June 29, allowing learners and teachers a brief respite. The term will conclude with a three-week holiday from August 4 to August 22.
Term 3: August 25 – October 24, 2025
The third term will run for nine weeks, starting on August 25 and concluding on October 24. This term, primarily focused on preparation for national exams, will not include a half-term break. Learners will break for December holidays starting October 27 at the commencement of the national assessments.
National Examination Dates
National examinations will dominate the final weeks of the academic year. The KPSEA, KILEA, KJSEA, and KPLEA will start on October 27, while the KCSE will begin slightly later, on November 23.
- KPSEA: October 27 – October 30 (5 days)
- KILEA: October 27 – October 31 (5 days)
- KJSEA and KPLEA: October 27 – November 6 (9 days)
- KCSE: November 23 – November 29
These exams mark critical transitions for learners at various stages of their education, particularly those sitting KILEA, as this is the pioneer cohort under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Preparation for Grade 9 Learners
The government has committed to completing the construction of 11,000 new classrooms by December 2024. This initiative aims to accommodate the more than 1.3 million Grade 9 learners, the pioneer cohort of CBC, who will transition to their final year of Junior School in 2025. This group will undertake the inaugural KILEA, which is designed to assess their readiness for Senior School.
Implications for Parents, Teachers, and Students
The 2025 school calendar aligns with the Competency-Based Curriculum’s focus on continuous assessment and smooth transitions. Parents have been assured of the government’s readiness to support the learning infrastructure and provide resources necessary for successful implementation.
For educators, the structured timelines provide ample opportunity for preparation, while students will benefit from clear guidance on what to expect in terms of academic and assessment schedules.
Closing Thoughts
As the education sector prepares for the 2025 academic year, the structured calendar reflects the government’s efforts to ensure a well-organized system under the CBC. With infrastructure projects nearing completion and exams slated to start promptly, stakeholders are optimistic about the seamless transition to higher levels of learning.
