Kenya to Overhaul School Calendar in Major Shake-Up as Government Moves to End Learner Fatigue and School Unrest
The government has announced sweeping plans to restructure the country’s academic calendar from next year in a bid to create equal-length school terms, reduce learner fatigue, and address the growing cases of unrest reported in schools across the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed the proposed reforms on Wednesday, June 10, saying the current school calendar has placed excessive pressure on learners due to the uneven distribution of learning weeks across the three terms.
Under the new arrangement, all school terms will run for approximately 12 weeks, replacing the current structure where the first term lasts 12 weeks, the second term stretches to 14 weeks, and the third term is compressed into just nine weeks.
Speaking during an education sector briefing, Ogamba said the reforms are intended to create a more balanced learning environment and improve the overall well-being of students.
“The first term is 12 weeks, the second term is 14 weeks, and the third term is nine weeks. We are now going to rationalise that and have 12 weeks across the board,” Ogamba stated.
The Cabinet Secretary added that the Ministry of Education is already working on the changes, which are expected to take effect at the start of the next academic year.
“We are working on that, and from the next academic year, school terms will be rationalised as part of the reforms we are doing to ensure that our students do not get exhausted,” he said.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over learner burnout and a wave of school unrest that has disrupted learning in several institutions. Government data indicates that at least 204 schools have experienced cases of unrest so far, raising alarm among education stakeholders.
Education experts have long argued that the uneven school calendar contributes to academic pressure, particularly during the lengthy second term, which often leaves learners and teachers exhausted before the end of the year.
Officials believe standardising term lengths will not only improve academic planning but also provide learners with adequate breaks, helping to boost concentration, discipline, and overall performance.
The proposed changes form part of a broader package of reforms being implemented by the Ministry of Education as it seeks to improve the quality of learning and create a more student-friendly education system.
If approved and implemented, the revised calendar will mark one of the most significant changes to Kenya’s school schedule in recent years, affecting millions of learners across primary and secondary schools nationwide.
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