The education ministry has finally come out to revise the official half term dates for the second term of 2024 following a delayed opening that was occasioned by floods that had caused massive destruction including school facilities.
Quick Summary
- Revised Half-Term Dates: June 26-28, 2024, instead of the initial June 20-23, 2024.
- Reason for Change: Delay in the opening of schools for term two by two weeks.
- Implementation: County Directors of Education (CDEs) to inform school heads about the new dates.
Change in the official half term dates for the second term of 2024 was announced through a memo signed by the Basic Education PS Dr. Belio Kipsang’. This directive was sent to all County Directors of Education (CDEs), who are responsible for ensuring that all heads of schools within their jurisdictions are notified and that necessary adjustments to planned activities and schedules are made accordingly.
Context and Background
The academic calendar for basic education institutions here in Kenya has faced several disruptions which forced the government to make important changes that would ensure continuity of learning in primary and secondary learning institutions. For example, as a result of continuing heightened rainfall that caused flooding across the country, the second term’s opening was postponed by two weeks, prompting the need to shift the half-term break to accommodate the lost time. The adjustments made are part of the ministry’s efforts to maintain the integrity of the academic schedule and ensure students receive the full extent of their education within the stipulated timeframe.
Adjusted Dates and Their Implications
| Initial Half-Term Dates | Revised Half-Term Dates |
|---|---|
| June 20-23, 2024 | June 26-28, 2024 |
The new half-term dates are confirmed to be from June 26-28, 2024. This is a change from the earlier planned June 20-23, 2024. The main cause for this adjustment is to make up for the late reopening of schools that were affected by flooding.
Accordingly, school administrators are advised to change their activity calendars according to these dates. This means they need to reschedule exams, extracurricular activities and all other events planned for first half-term period. Schools are doing this with a goal of reducing interruptions and making sure that the shift is as easy as possible for both students and teachers.