Kenya Education Ministry to Standardise School Calendar Amid Student Unrest

Kenya's Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced that, starting the next academic year, all secondary school terms will be standardised to roughly 12 weeks. The current calendar has a 12‑week first term, a 14‑week second term and a 9‑week third term, which the ministry says contributes to learner fatigue and exam‑related stress.

The reform follows reports of unrest at 204 senior schools – less than 2% of the country's secondary institutions – prompting the ministry to form a multi‑stakeholder team to investigate root causes, conduct safety audits, and hold consultative meetings with parents. County and sub‑county education officers have been directed to assess at‑risk schools and strengthen guidance, counselling, and grievance‑handling mechanisms.

Ogamba urged parents to use the upcoming mid‑term break (June 24‑28, 2026) to support their children and emphasized that the existing calendar will remain in place until the new system is implemented in January 2026.