A learner being escorted by her guardian along Tom Mboya Street, Nairobi on January 6, 2025/LEAH MUKANGAISchools across the country have released learners for the April holiday, which spans three weeks and affects students in pre-primary, primary, and junior schools.
According to the Ministry of Education’s academic calendar, the holiday officially begins on Monday, April 7, and runs until April 25.
This break follows a 13-week academic term that commenced on January 6.
The learners, however, had a brief respite with a five-day half-term break from February 26 to March 2.
A spot-check by the Star has revealed that while most schools released students Friday, some closed earlier than scheduled due to various operational challenges, which include the capitation crisis attributed to a surge in student enrollment.
Many schools have struggled to manage their resources due to frequent delays by the government in releasing the funding.
The increased demand for learning materials and strained infrastructure further compounded the issue.
The second term is set to commence on April 28 and will last for 14 weeks, the longest in the academic calendar.
This term will be crucial for learners, particularly those preparing for national assessments.
With travelling being a major concern to the parents, the government has already called on the motorists to adhere to road safety rules.
“As school children travel home for the holidays, there is an urgent need for all players within the road transport sector to put measures in place to ensure their safe passage,” the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said in a statement dated April 3.
It said close supervision of children and identification of safe vehicles to transport them will play a critical role in ensuring their safety.
