Kenya Bans PP2 Graduations and School Events Ahead of National Exams

When Julius Ogamba, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, stood before reporters at the Ministry of Education headquarters in Nairobi on August 18, 2025, he didn’t mince words: "These ceremonies are not milestones—they’re distractions." His directive, issued just three days earlier, had already sent shockwaves through 26,000+ schools nationwide. No more PP2 graduations. No more Sports Days. No more talent shows or Prayer Days. All non-academic events in public and private basic education institutions were suspended until after the November 2025 national exams. And school heads who ignored the order? They’d face suspension—or worse.

The Crackdown on Celebrations

The ban, formalized in Circular No. MoE/SE/17/01/01 dated August 15, 2025, didn’t come out of nowhere. It was the second wave of a policy shift that began in July 2025, when the Ministry first warned schools to "strictly adhere to official learning hours." But this time, the message was unmistakable: education over spectacle. The decision specifically targeted Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) graduations, a cornerstone of Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which has been rolling out since 2017. Each year, about 1.2 million children—barely five or six years old—wear tiny gowns, recite poems, and sing songs in front of beaming parents. But Ogamba called them "costly, time-consuming, and unnecessary." And he had data to back it up.

According to internal Ministry reports from June 2025, parents were spending between KES 5,000 and KES 15,000 ($38–$114) per child on gowns, venue rentals, photography, and refreshments. In low-income neighborhoods like Eastleigh in Nairobi, some families sold livestock or skipped meals to afford the ceremony. Meanwhile, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) found that instructional time in the critical third term dropped by 22% in 2024 due to event planning. That’s nearly five full weeks of learning lost—just as students prepared for KPSEA, KJSEA, and KCSE exams set to begin in late October.

How Schools Are Responding

By August 20, 2025, schools from Mombasa to Kiambu had begun canceling long-planned events. A Nairobi-based primary school issued a quiet statement: "We regret to inform you that we will not be holding our planned Sports Day and PP2 Graduation Ceremony." But they didn’t just cancel—they adapted. "We’ll celebrate with a simple in-house ceremony for the children, together with their classmates," the note added. No crowds. No catering. Just teachers, kids, and a few photos.

Sub-county education officers in Machakos and Nakuru had already shut down two PP2 events scheduled for August 25–26, issuing written warnings to principals. County Directors of Education—like Dr. Joseph Kinyua in Nairobi and Fatuma Ali in Mombasa—are now conducting weekly inspections. Violations are to be reported directly to Ogamba’s office on Kirinyaga Road. Under Section 42 of the Basic Education Act (No. 14 of 2013), non-compliant principals risk suspension, demotion, or even dismissal. It’s a heavy hammer. And it’s being swung.

Parental Anger and the Emotional Cost

But not everyone sees this as progress. On August 22, 2025, The Kenya Times published emotional interviews with parents in Nairobi’s Eastleigh and Kibera neighborhoods. "My daughter has been practicing her poem for three months," said one mother, wiping away tears. "She’s proud. To tell her it doesn’t matter? That’s not discipline—that’s disrespect." Others compared the ban to erasing childhood. "We don’t have much," said a father in Mombasa. "But we save for this. It’s the only time we feel like our child’s achievements are seen."

Some reports, including one from The Business Watch, claimed parents organizing banned events would be "arrested." But that claim has no basis in the official circular. The Ministry’s language focuses on disciplining school administrators—not parents. Still, the fear is real. One parent in Kiambu said she was told by her child’s school that "the police might come" if she showed up to the canceled ceremony. That’s not policy. That’s panic.

A Broader Shift in Education Philosophy

This isn’t just about saving money or hours. It’s a philosophical pivot. Since 2017, the CBC was sold as a child-centered system—fostering creativity, confidence, and holistic development. PP2 graduations were part of that vision: a public affirmation of early learning. But now, the Ministry is prioritizing academic outcomes over symbolic milestones. Ogamba’s team argues that Kenya’s national exam pass rates have stagnated, and the third term is the last chance to boost performance before learners move on to secondary school.

It’s a familiar story. In 2019, Uganda banned school dances and end-of-year parties for similar reasons. In 2021, Rwanda restricted parent-led fundraising events during exam periods. Kenya’s move is more sweeping. And it’s happening at a time when the country is under pressure from international donors to improve learning outcomes. The World Bank’s 2024 Education Sector Review noted that Kenya’s Grade 6 literacy rate had barely improved since 2020—hovering at 53%.

What Comes Next?

The ban lasts until November 2025, after the last KCSE paper is marked. But the real question isn’t when it ends—it’s whether it will return. Will the Ministry allow PP2 ceremonies in 2026, or is this the new normal? Some education experts believe this is a temporary measure. Others, like Dr. Amina Wanjiku, a curriculum analyst at the University of Nairobi, warn: "Once you remove ritual from education, you risk removing meaning. The child who feels seen at graduation is more likely to stay in school."

For now, schools are complying. Parents are grieving. And the children? Many don’t understand why their special day vanished. One six-year-old in Nakuru asked her teacher: "Will I still get my diploma?" The teacher didn’t know how to answer.