Thousands of learners are returning to school after the half-term break of this year’s academic calendar, amid expectations from parents, teachers and education stakeholders that the government will have released capitation funds to ensure smooth learning.
Last week, principals of both boarding and day secondary schools released students for the mid-term break with letters urging parents to clear outstanding fee balances.
The resumption comes at a critical time when learners are set to participate in regional sports and drama festivals, as Form Four candidates and those in Grade 6 and Grade 9 begin registration for their national assessments and examinations for transition to junior and senior school, respectively.
Schools are required to upload candidates’ data before the end of March ahead of the assessments and examinations planned for later this year.
“The registration period for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) will run from March 2 to March 31, 2026, while registration for KCSE will run from February 16 to March 31, 2026. Schools are expected to upload registration data and complete the process within the stipulated timelines,” he said while launching the exercise.
The 2026 KCSE will be the second-last under the 8-4-4 system, with the final cohort expected to sit the test next year, bringing to a close the 37-year-old education system.
Meanwhile, parents are flocking to primary schools and civil registration offices to secure school leaving certificates and birth certificates, which are mandatory for examination registration.
“We have been struggling to obtain my daughter’s primary school leaving certificate due to fee arrears of Sh90, 000. I fear she might miss registration because I do not have that money,” said a parent whose daughter sat her KCPE at a private school.
Although the government warned schools against withholding the crucial documents over unpaid fees, some private school heads have defied the directive, insisting that the documents will only be released once arrears are cleared.
“This is a private school, not a public institution that survives on capitation. We have bills to pay. Parents must clear fees before we surrender those documents,” said a school owner who sought anonymity.
Meanwhile, schools are racing to complete the syllabus for Form Four candidates ahead of the KCSE exams.
Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) chairman Julius Nyabundi urged stakeholders to mobilise heads of institutions, learners and parents to achieve 100 per cent registration. KNEC chief executive David Njengere said they will open the Grade 10 portal once the 2026 KCSE registration closes, paving the way for the roll-out of school-based assessments in senior school.
“Last year was unique for KNEC as the council administered the KJSEA for the first time to an estimated 1.13 million candidates. In 2026, based on previous trends and the anticipated rise in KCSE candidature, KNEC expects to register about 3.7 million candidates,” he said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba speaks to the media after commissioning a multi-storey nlock at the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic in Mombasa in this photo taken on February 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
Mr Ogamba said the government has so far distributed 8.4 million textbooks for Grade 10 learners and expects to reach 11 million by the end of the month. Education stakeholders led by Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Deputy Secretary-General Hesborn Otieno urged the government to ensure adequate provision of learning resources.
“As schools resume after midterm, we expect issues surrounding Grade 10 placement to be resolved so institutions can focus on curriculum delivery. The ministry should ensure schools are adequately supplied with learning materials,” he said.
National Parents Association (NPA) chairperson Silas Obuhatsa urged parents to ensure all learners report back and adhere to guidelines issued for Grade 10 reporting, including security measures requiring parental accompaniment where necessary.
He reminded school managers that the President’s directive allowing Grade 10 learners to report to school regardless of uniform or fees remains in force, warning against sending students home over non-compliance.
However, the association appealed to parents who are able to pay fees to support schools and avoid taking advantage of the directive.
“The President’s order was meant to support vulnerable children whose parents cannot afford school costs. Schools are struggling with huge debts to suppliers for food, water and electricity,” he said.
Mr Obuhatsa said NPA is working with school heads’ associations to clarify concerns around school payments, insisting that approved charges should not be termed illegal levies.
He also called on the government to provide security to principals facing threats from members of the public and to take firm action against individuals trespassing on school property to harass administrators.
“Performance lies squarely in the hands of parents as the first teachers of their children. Principals are chief executive officers of schools, but without parental support in matters of discipline and guidance, good performance cannot be achieved.”
“We are delighted to have learners back after the break. As junior secondary teachers, we are ready to resume learning,” said Omari Omari, Secretary, Junior Secondary – Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, Nairobi Branch.
Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association chairperson Fuad Ali said schools are ready to resume learning.
