The Ministry of Education has released the 2025 academic calendar, confirming that schools across Kenya will reopen for the first term on January 6, 2025, following the completion of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
Key Dates for 2025 Academic Year
- First Term
- Opening Date: January 6, 2025
- Half-Term Break: February 26 to March 2, 2025
- Closing Date: April 4, 2025
- Holiday: April 7 to April 25, 2025
- Second Term
- Opening Date: April 28, 2025
- Half-Term Break: June 25 to June 29, 2025
- Closing Date: August 1, 2025
- Holiday: August 4 to August 22, 2025
- Third Term
- Opening Date: August 25, 2025
- Closing Date: October 24, 2025
National Examinations Schedule
- Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA):
October 27 – October 30, 2025 - Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA):
October 27 – October 31, 2025 - Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE):
November 3 – November 21, 2025
Exam Integrity Measures
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba emphasized the ministry’s zero-tolerance stance on exam malpractice. Invigilators are instructed to document serial numbers of compromised papers, ensuring culprits are held accountable without impacting others.
This announcement follows the successful administration of KCSE exams to 900,000 students, which concluded on November 22, 2024. Marking is set to commence shortly, with the government committed to maintaining integrity in the examination process.