The Ministry of Education yesterday released the schools and colleges calendar for 2017. The opening and closing term dates will apply to the basic institutions pursuing national curriculum. In a statement to media houses, Principal Secretary of Education Dr Belio Kipsang said timetable was reached after wide consultations with stakeholders.
He added that Term 1 will consist of fourteen weeks with schools expected to open on January 4 and close on April 17 2017. Secondary schools will break for their mid-term on February 27 to March 4 2017. “Term 2 will also consist of fourteen weeks with schools expected to open on the May 2, 2017 and close August 4, 2017; Secondary schools will break for their mid-term on June 19 to 24, 2017,” said Kipsang.
Kipsang further added that Term 3 which is the shortest term in the school calendar will consist of nine weeks with schools opening on August 28, 2017 and closing on October 27, 2017. However colleges will open on August 28, 2017 and close on November 11, 2017.
“These dates will pave way for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) which will begin on October 30, 2017 to November 3, 2017 followed by the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) which will begin from November 6 – 30, 2017,” Kipsang said.
The PS instructed all County Directors of Education to produce copies of the new circular and send to all institutions under their jurisdiction. The statement comes just as schools are about to break for third term holidays this year on the Thursday October 27, to pave way KCPE and KCSE exams.
The new dates will ensure that the 2017 general elections will be held during schools holidays as many polling centres are located in public schools.
In May this year, Education Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’i reorganized the school calendar and announced far-reaching changes in the administration of national examinations to curb cheating. Dr Matiang’i banned all social activities in third term including prayer days, visiting, half term breaks, sports, prize-giving ceremonies and annual general meetings to cut contact between candidates and outsiders.
The 2017 term dates also reaffirm the government’s commitment to the newly reorganized school calendar that was released by Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i. In the recent weeks parents and education stake holders have expressed concern over the eight week long Christmas break saying students are likely to engage in non-school related activities.
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