Kenya's school calender set to change

Written By:Judith Akolo,    Posted: Wed, Dec 28, 2011

From 2012, first and second terms will be longer with 16 and 15 weeks respectively while third term will be 8 weeks. The Ministry of Education has proposed the change of school dates that will see the holiday periods in first and second term shortened to allow for an early closing of schools. Minister Sam Ongeri says this will allow for non interference in the examination season proposed beginning on the 19th of October. While releasing the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education - KCPE examination results, Education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri said with effect from 2012 the first and second terms will be longer with 16 and 15 weeks respectively while third term will be 8 weeks. "This will make the holidays for the first and second terms shorter and there will be an examination period from 19th October when all schools will be closed. The circular to this effect will be released in January 2012," Ongeri noted. Stakeholders have until 13th January to forwards their comments to the Education Secretary. The Minister disabused the notion that Kenya's education is below standard saying recent research findings have shown that the education quality is above average. " Kenyan pupils at standard 6 ranked among the top in literacy and numeracy in the 15 countries in Arica that participated in SACMEG studies" he said. He however noted that the poor performance in literacy was due to adulteration of both Kiswahili and English which he said has seen more people including top politicians use ‘sheng' as a language of communication. The Minister warned parents and teachers against forcing children to repeat classes noting that research had shown that over age candidates perform poorer in examinations.