Education Ministry Tightens School Rules Ahead of 2026 Exams as Prayer Days and Prize-Giving Events Face New Restrictions
Kenya’s Ministry of Education has introduced tighter controls on school activities ahead of the 2026 national assessment and examination period, with schools being directed to move Annual General Meetings (AGMs), prize-giving ceremonies and candidate prayer events to earlier terms.
The directive, contained in a circular dated Thursday, September 3, was issued by Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa as schools prepare for the crucial Third Term and the upcoming national examinations.
The Ministry said the measures were intended to protect candidates from unnecessary disruptions as schools enter one of the most demanding periods of the academic calendar.
“To facilitate effective preparation for and administration of these national assessments and examinations and to minimise disruption, the Ministry has deemed it necessary to regulate co-curricular, social and external-engagement activities throughout Third Term and the national assessment and examination period,” the circular stated.
AGMs moved away from Third Term
Under the new directive, schools will no longer be expected to hold their Annual General Meetings during Third Term.
Instead, AGMs are to be scheduled during either the First or Second Term, allowing schools to concentrate on academic preparation during the final term of the year.
Prize-giving ceremonies and thanksgiving events have similarly been moved to Second Term.
The Ministry has also directed schools to organise dedicated candidate prayer days during Second Term rather than waiting until the examination period.
Restrictions on prayer events during examinations
The directive introduces a particularly significant restriction on candidate prayer events.
Schools will not be allowed to organise prayer days involving parents, visitors or other members of the public during the national examination period.
However, ordinary worship sessions conducted within schools by chaplains and teachers may continue.
The move appears aimed at limiting the movement of outsiders into examination centres and preventing activities that could interfere with candidates’ concentration, security arrangements or the administration of national assessments.
Education officers’ leave cancelled
The Ministry has also ordered the cancellation of annual leave for education officers during the national assessment and examination period.
Regional, County and Sub-County Directors of Education have been instructed to ensure the directive is implemented across schools under their jurisdiction.
The restrictions come as the government steps up preparations for the 2026 examination cycle and seeks to ensure that examination centres operate without unnecessary interruptions.
TSC and KNEC preparations gather pace
The latest directive comes as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) intensify preparations for the deployment of personnel who will oversee the examinations and assessments.
Curriculum Support Officers have been collecting candidate information from school heads, while Sub-County Directors of Education are expected to submit details of qualified Centre Managers, Supervisors and Invigilators through the KNEC CP2 online portal.
The exercise is expected to pave the way for the deployment of examination officials across the country.
2026 examination dates
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination is scheduled to run from October 19 to November 20, 2026.
The written papers for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) will take place from October 26 to 28, while the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) are scheduled for October 26 to 30.
The Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment will run from October 26 to 29.
With the examination calendar approaching, the Ministry’s latest directive signals a renewed push to keep schools focused on preparation and minimise activities that could interfere with candidates during the assessment period.
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