Unveiled Schedule for Upcoming Academic Year
The Ministry of Education in Kazakhstan has announced the academic calendar for the 2025-2026 school year in secondary education institutions. The academic year is scheduled to begin on September 2, 2025, and conclude on May 25, 2026, with approximately 176 total contact days.
The first quarter of the academic year will have 8 weeks of instruction, followed by a 7-day break for Autumn holidays from October 27 to November 2, 2025. The third quarter will consist of 10 weeks of instruction, and the fourth quarter will last 8 weeks of instruction, concluding on May 25, 2026.
First graders will enjoy an additional 7-day break from February 9 to 15, 2026. The winter break will be 10 calendar days, from December 29, 2025, to January 7, 2026, inclusive. Spring break will last 11 calendar days, from March 19 to 29, 2026, inclusive.
The second quarter of the academic year will also have 8 weeks of instruction. The ceremonial line-up dedicated to Knowledge Day will be determined by the school's pedagogical council.
Semester 2 officially ends on June 16, 2026, with the last day for students being a half-day. The staff last day is on June 17, 2026. Kazakhstan state exams for secondary students are expected to conclude around June 17-18, 2026.
International Baccalaureate (IB) exams for Grades 10 and 12 will take place in April and May 2026, overlapping with the academic year. Key ceremonial events like KG and Grade 5 step-up ceremonies are scheduled to occur in early to mid-June 2026.
Schools observe national holidays during the year. However, no official detailed break periods or individual holiday specifics beyond winter break and summer dates for the 2025-2026 secondary school year in Kazakhstan were found in the search results. It is advisable to check Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education official announcements closer to the school year start for more detailed public national school calendars.
Education-and-self-development opportunities outside the formal school system could provide supplementary learning resources during the 7-day break for Autumn holidays in October 2025, or during the spring break in March 2026, to ensure a comprehensive learning experience for secondary school students in Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Education's official announcements may also include guidance on suggested self-development activities during these breaks to enable continuous learning and growth.
