The Ministry of Education has announced that all primary and secondary schools will close for the third term on Friday, October 24, 2025, bringing to an end a short but intense academic stretch. The closure will pave the way for national examinations, which are scheduled to run from late October into November.
According to the official school calendar, the third term began on August 25 and will last only nine weeks, making it one of the shortest in recent years. The early closure has been designed to give room for smooth administration of exams, a process that requires schools to be fully handed over to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
Exam Timetable
Several key assessments will take place soon after schools close.
- KPSEA (Kenya Primary School Education Assessment) for Grade Six learners will be conducted between October 27 and 30, 2025.
- KILEA (Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment) will run from October 27 to 31, 2025.
- KJSEA and KPLEA are scheduled for October 27 to November 6, 2025.
- KCSSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Examinations) will follow from November 3 to 21, 2025.
Significance of the Holiday
After exams conclude, learners across the country will proceed for the long December holiday, set to run until January 2, 2026. This break will give students, teachers, and parents time to rest after what has been an intensive academic year.
For candidates, however, the break will also be filled with anticipation as they await their results, which will determine the next phase of their academic journey.
Public Reaction
The announcement has generated mixed reactions from parents and teachers. Some parents have welcomed the early closure, saying it will give learners time to prepare mentally for exams. Teachers, on the other hand, caution that the shorter term has put pressure on schools to rush through the syllabus.
Education stakeholders emphasize that the government must ensure exams are managed transparently and securely, as these assessments shape the future of millions of Kenyan learners.
As schools prepare to close their doors for the year, the spotlight now shifts to the candidates sitting for national examinations. The period ahead will be a true test of resilience and determination, not only for the learners but also for the education sector, which continues to balance academic demands with logistical challenges.
