Updated 8 November 2026.
Direct answer: A Ministry of Education memo dated 30 July 2025, as Education News reported it on 3 August 2025, bans formal teaching in public and private basic education institutions during the April, August and December holidays, except limited, supervised remedial help. We have not seen the memo and found no 2026 reminder, so check with your school and the Ministry.
What the Ministry memo says
Education News reported on 3 August 2025 on a memo from the Ministry of Education. The facts below are as that report gives them. We have not seen the memo itself.
| Question | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Memo date and signatory | 30 July 2025, signed by Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok |
| Who it covers | All public and private basic education institutions |
| Legal basis cited | Section 37 of the Basic Education Act, 2012 |
| What is banned | Formal teaching in the official April, August and December holidays |
| What is allowed | Limited remedial help for specific learners, supervised by Ministry Quality Assurance Officers, not commercialised and not compulsory for everyone |
| Penalty reported | A fine of up to KSh 100,000, up to one year in prison, or both; serious or repeat cases may go to the Director of Public Prosecutions |
| Enforcement | Regional Directors to work with County Directors and send monthly reports to the Ministry |
Source: Education News, 3 August 2025. Table prepared 8 November 2026.
Which dates does this December cover?
The Ministry calendar, as Education News published it on 13 October 2025, puts the December holiday for schools from 26 October 2026 to 1 January 2027. Kenyans.co.ke reported on 4 November 2026 that Term 1 of 2027 opens on 4 January. The memo, as reported, names the April, August and December holidays. On 8 November we searched the news and looked at the Ministry's home page (education.go.ke) for a December 2026 reminder and found none. We could not check every circular on the Ministry site, so the 2025 memo is the latest statement we have read. That is not proof that nothing has changed, so please check with your school and the Ministry.
What the rule is about, and what it is not
The memo is about schools calling pupils in for formal teaching. Education News reported on 18 August 2025 that some schools in Western, Rift Valley, Central and Nyanza were bringing Form Three and Form Four learners in for holiday classes. It said learners were told not to wear uniform or carry school-looking bags, that parents in some Rift Valley counties paid up to KSh 3,000 a learner, and that some parents felt pressured to pay.
The reports we read do not discuss a parent who studies with a child at home, or free reading and downloads. We are not lawyers. If you are unsure about a particular offer, ask your school, your county education office or the Ministry.
If a school asks you to pay for holiday classes
- Ask which circular allows it, and ask for it in writing.
- Ask who the teacher is, where the class meets and who supervises it. Our guide to the seven questions to ask before you pay lists the rest.
- Be careful if you are told to hide the uniform or pay cash with no receipt.
- Talk to the head teacher first. A child who needs real help may qualify for the limited remedial route.
Ideas for home study
Most children do well with a calm routine. Our week-by-week at-home revision plan for Grades 1 to 9 shows a ten-week pattern with two rest weeks at the start and a light Christmas. For ready-made questions, CBC Edu Kenya sells revision packs from KSh 100 each. The Grade 6 complete package is KSh 250 for the whole grade, with nine whole-year packs and 1,856 questions with answers. The Grade 9 English pack is KSh 100 for 140 pages with a detachable answer booklet. Prices for other grades are on the shop page. They are study aids and do not guarantee results.
What CBC Edu Kenya offers
For information only, and separate from the rules above: CBC Edu Kenya runs a Holiday Learning Academy with live online classes for CBC Grades 4 to 10, 4 lessons a week of 2 hours each, at KSh 3,000 a week. We make no claim about how the memo applies to any class, ours or anyone else's. Please check the rules with your school and the Ministry before you enrol your child anywhere.
Sources
- MoE cracks down on illegal holiday tuition in schools (Education News, 3 Aug 2025)
- Schools defy TSC, MoE regulations with costly holiday tuition (Education News, 18 Aug 2025)
- MoE releases 2026 academic calendar for schools and TTCs (Education News, 13 Oct 2025)
- Schools to open on January 4 as Education Ministry releases 2027 school calendar (Kenyans.co.ke, 4 Nov 2026)
CBC Edu Kenya is not part of the Ministry of Education and this is not legal advice. We have not seen the memo itself. Rules can change, so check your school and the Ministry for the latest.
Frequently asked questions
Is holiday tuition allowed in Kenya in December 2026?
Education News reported on 3 August 2025 that a Ministry of Education memo of 30 July 2025 bans formal teaching in public and private basic education institutions in the April, August and December holidays, with only limited supervised remedial help allowed. We have not seen the memo and found no 2026 reminder on 8 November 2026, so check with your school and the Ministry.
Who does the holiday tuition ban apply to?
According to Education News, it covers all public and private basic education institutions. It is about schools. The reports we read do not address a parent studying with a child at home.
What is the penalty for holiday tuition in Kenya?
Education News reported a fine of up to KSh 100,000, up to one year in prison, or both, with serious or repeat cases possibly referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Is remedial teaching allowed in the holidays?
Limited remedial help may be allowed for specific learners who need support. Education News reported that it must be supervised by Ministry Quality Assurance Officers and must not be commercialised or compulsory for everyone.
When does the December 2026 holiday end?
The Ministry calendar puts the holiday from 26 October 2026 to 1 January 2027, and Kenyans.co.ke reported that Term 1 of 2027 opens on 4 January. Check your school's circular for your own date.
Holiday Learning Academy: live online classes
Live online classes, 4 lessons a week, 2 hours each. Access to study materials and Somo AI for 7 days. CBC classes are KSh 3,000 a week.
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