All public basic education institutions across the country will reopen for the first term of the 2026 academic year on Monday, January 5, the Ministry of Education has announced, as the government released over Sh44.2 billion in capitation funds to support learning activities.
In a statement issued by Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba, the ministry said field officers, working under Regional and County Directors of Education, will be deployed nationwide to ensure schools adhere to the official academic calendar as learning resumes.
The government has disbursed a total of Sh44,245,066,500.85 as capitation for Term One, 2026, distributed across different levels of basic education. Free Primary Education received Sh3.7 billion, Free Day Junior School Education Sh14.46 billion, while Free Day Secondary Education was allocated Sh26.08 billion.
According to the ministry, the timely release of funds is expected to ensure a smooth start to the term and uninterrupted school operations. Grade 10 learners under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) are scheduled to report to their respective senior schools from January 12, 2026.
The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed that fees payable in senior schools remain unchanged, adding that the government will continue to provide capitation at a rate of Sh22,244 per learner per year. School heads have been warned against imposing extra levies, with the ministry pledging firm action against any verified cases of misappropriation or illegal charges.
“The government remains committed to its constitutional obligation under Article 53 to provide free and compulsory basic education to every child,” Ogamba said.Grade 10 placement update
The ministry also provided an update on the placement of learners to Grade 10 of senior school. The initial placement exercise ran from December 14 to December 19, 2025, with results released immediately thereafter. Learners were allowed to apply for a review of their placement between December 23 and December 29.
Out of 355,457 applications for review received, 211,636 learners were successful. The remaining applications were declined mainly due to limited school capacity or the unavailability of preferred subject combinations. Some national schools, including Alliance High School, Kenya High School and Mang’u High School, reportedly received up to 20,000 applications each despite having an average capacity of about 500 slots.
Overall, the ministry said 88 per cent of learners have now been placed based on their original or revised choices. Of those placed, 51 per cent joined the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pathway, 38 per cent the Social Sciences pathway, and 11 per cent the Arts and Sports Science pathway.
Parents and learners seeking further changes will have another opportunity to apply for a placement review between January 6 and January 9, 2026. Requests must be submitted through the learner’s junior school or the senior school of interest and processed via the official placement portal.
