The Ministry of Education has announced a major restructuring of the national academic calendar beginning in 2027, with all school terms set to run for approximately 12 weeks in a move aimed at reducing learner fatigue, stress, and indiscipline.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the reforms are intended to address growing concerns over the current academic schedule, which stakeholders have linked to increasing cases of unrest in secondary schools across the country.
The announcement comes amid a wave of student strikes that has affected 204 senior secondary schools nationwide. Education officials have attributed part of the crisis to the uneven structure of the 2026 academic calendar, which features a demanding 14-week second term followed by a compressed nine-week third term, placing pressure on both learners and teachers.
Under the new arrangement, all three academic terms will have a standardized duration of about 12 weeks. The ministry believes the change will create a more balanced learning environment, improve curriculum delivery, and reduce the pressure associated with rushed syllabus coverage.
Despite calls from some stakeholders for an emergency break to ease tensions in schools, the government has maintained that the current academic calendar will remain unchanged. The Ministry of Education confirmed that no early half-term break will be granted and that the scheduled second-term mid-term break will proceed as planned from June 24 to June 28, 2026.
At the same time, the ministry has unveiled a series of immediate interventions aimed at curbing the ongoing unrest and improving safety in schools.
A multi-stakeholder committee has been established to investigate the root causes of student strikes and indiscipline. The team will examine factors such as academic pressure, leadership challenges within institutions, poor boarding conditions, and substance abuse among learners.
Education officials have also been directed to conduct mandatory safety audits in institutions identified as high risk. County and Sub-County Education Officers will oversee targeted assessments to ensure schools comply with safety requirements and are adequately prepared to handle emergencies.
To strengthen oversight, the ministry is deploying an additional 1,000 Quality Assurance and Standards Officers across the country. The officers will be tasked with increasing inspections and enforcing adherence to safety and operational regulations.
School administrations have further been instructed to enhance engagement with learners and parents. Principals are expected to convene Parents Association meetings and strengthen guidance and counseling services, while also creating effective channels through which students can raise concerns and seek support.
Source Attributed: The Standard