The Ministry of Education has revised the school calendar to address learner fatigue and curb student unrest by adjusting term durations and extending breaks to allow learners more time to rest.
The changes follow unrest that affected more than 200 schools this year, involving strikes, dormitory fires, walkouts and destruction of property, with some incidents causing injuries and losses worth millions of shillings.
During a May 14 emergency meeting, school administrators identified examination anxiety and academic fatigue as key drivers of the unrest.
Other concerns included poor boarding conditions, leadership challenges, peer pressure and substance abuse.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the planned review in June before appointing a 52-member task team chaired by Professor Peter Mbithi in October to investigate the unrest and recommend reforms.
The revised calendar, communicated in an October 19 circular, introduces longer midterm and August breaks while shortening the December holiday and adjusting term durations to create a more balanced learning schedule.
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