Govt speaks on reports of school reopening being postponed

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- The State Department for Basic Education flagged a post circulating on social media claiming that school opening had been postponed as fake

- Parents, guardians, learners, and teachers were urged to disregard the misleading information spreading online

- Term 3 is set to begin on August 24, 2026, in line with the academic calendar communicated earlier

The State Department for Basic Education under Kenya's Ministry of Education has issued an alert warning the public against a false social media post claiming that the opening of schools for Term 3 has been postponed.

The department described the circulating claim as fake news and called on parents, guardians, learners, teachers, and all members of the public to disregard it entirely.

Term 3 Opening Date Confirmed

According to the Ministry of Education, schools will reopen for Term 3 on August 24, 2026, as was communicated in the official academic calendar. The department made clear that no change to this schedule has been made, and the misinformation being shared online does not reflect any government directive or policy shift.

The alert comes at a time when social media platforms have increasingly been used to spread unverified claims about government policy, particularly on matters affecting school schedules, which directly impact millions of families across Kenya.

What the School Calendar Looks Like

Kenya's academic year is divided into three terms, each followed by a scheduled school holiday.

Term 3 is the final term of the 2026 school year, and its commencement on August 24, 2026 marks the last stretch before the long December break.

The term typically runs through late October or early November, after which schools close ahead of the end-of-year national examinations period and the December holidays.

The Ministry of Education has previously emphasised the importance of adhering strictly to the approved calendar to safeguard instructional time, particularly for candidates sitting national examinations at the end of the year.

Members of the public seeking clarification on the academic calendar were advised to rely only on official communications from the Ministry of Education and the State Department for Basic Education, rather than unverified posts circulating on social media platforms.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.