Education

In Kenya, refugee and asylum seeker children and adults have access to universal primary education, as well as access to pre-primary education, secondary education, vocational skills, and tertiary institutions.  

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Basic Education in Kenya

Every child in Kenya has a right to education according to the Kenyan Constitution and the Basic Education Act of 2013.  

Refugees and asylum seekers can freely enroll in the schools managed by UNHCR in the camps, in Kenyan public schools, or in private schools. There are no policies that prevent refugees from accessing basic education in Kenya.  

Basic education in Kenya is free and compulsory and is provided through:  

  • 2 years in Pre-primary  
  • 6 years in Primary (Grades 1–6)  
  • 3 years in Junior School (Grades 7, 8, 9) 
  • 3 years in Senior School (grades 10,11,12)   

Age: It is compulsory for all children to enroll in and attend Basic Education. Children should be enrolled in pre-primary education at the age of 4 and start primary education at the age of 6. The CBC uses formative or ongoing assessment, so it is important for students to attend class every day and not to skip a grade.  

Children entering a higher grade may be asked to provide school reports or certificates from their previous school or to sit for a placement test.  Please contact your nearest school for more information.  

Language: The language of instruction in Kenyan classrooms is English. Kiswahili is also an important subject as the national and official language of Kenya.   

Principles: Kenyan schools use the national Competency-Based Curriculum, which puts emphasis on seven core competencies:

  • communication and collaboration,  
  • critical thinking and problem-solving,  
  • creativity and imagination, 
  • citizenship,   
  • digital literacy,  
  • learning to learn and self-efficacy

Examinations: Public examinations include the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) at the end of Grade 6, and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at the end of Grade 12. The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education has been phased out.   

School Term Dates 2024

PeriodOpening DatesClosing DatesDuration
TERM 1 8th January 5th April 13 Weeks 
Half Term 29th February 3rd March 3 days 
Holiday (April) 8th April 26th April 3 weeks 
TERM 2 29th April 2nd August 14 weeks 
Half term 20th June 23rd June 3 days 
Holiday (August) 5th August 23rd August 3 weeks 
TERM 3 26th August 25th October 9 weeks 
KPSEA & KILEA Exams 28th October 31st October 4 days 
KCSE Exams 4th November 22nd November 3 weeks 
Holiday (Nov-Dec) 28th October 3rd January 2025 10 weeks 

Basic Education in the Refugee Camps in Kakuma and Dadaab

Refugees, asylum-seekers, and host community children may access pre-primary, primary and secondary education in the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps and Kalobeyei Settlement.  

Primary education managed by UNHCR and NGO partners (LWF, FCA, WIK, JRS) is provided free of charge in both camps.  

An Accelerated Education Programme (AEP) for out-of-school and over-age learners to bridge educational gaps is provided in selected primary schools and learning centres.  

In Kakuma, a small contribution is levied at the secondary level. There are two camp-based girls’ boarding schools (a primary and a secondary) located in Kakuma 1, managed by UNHCR and partners. Application for admission to these schools is open once a year in October.  

To enrol or register in a school, please visit the nearest UNHCR Primary or Secondary school in your location and inquire about the procedures.  

Basic Education in urban areas for refugees

For refugees living in urban areas, public primary and day secondary education is free of charge; however, schools may charge additional fees and levies. For more information, contact the public school in your locality or reach out to the Sub-County Director of Education

What documents do I need to register for school? 

Students may enrol in public schools using their refugee registration number, asylum pass number or birth certificate. Refugees holding Kenyan birth certificates are recommended to register with this document.  

For assistance with admission to public schools, please contact the Sub-County Director of Education’s office.   

Student Movement Passes

Students travelling to or returning from schools or universities outside of the camps should always visit the Department of Refugee Services (DRS) Camp Manager’s Office to seek a Movement Pass to allow travel safely. You can book an appointment for the Camp Manager’s Office through KASI at the UNHCR Field Posts. 

Higher Education in Kenya

Kenya has a robust tertiary education sector, providing many professional pathways and qualifications opportunities through Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) colleges and many public and private universities all over the country.   

If you are looking for a higher education opportunity, check these resources: 

Education Scholarships

Secondary school scholarships: 

Scholarships to attend public secondary schools are available through the following providers, though this support is highly competitive:   

Higher education scholarships:

Kenya refugees also have access to some in other countries. For more information please visit: 

DAFI Scholarship Program:

UNHCR offers higher education scholarships through the Albert Einstein Academic Refugee Initiative or DAFI Scholarship Programme, which opens once a year (around April/May) for application.  For more information please visit:

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