Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has released the official academic calendar for junior and senior secondary schools for the 2025/2026 school year.
According to the schedule, classes will commence on September 8, 2025, and conclude on July 17, 2026, covering 41 instructional weeks across three terms.
The first term runs from September 8 to December 19, followed by a Christmas break from December 22 to January 2, 2026.
The second term begins on January 5 and ends on April 2, with an Easter break from April 3 to April 17.
The third term will span April 20 to July 17, after which schools will close for the long holiday until September 4, 2026.
Beyond classroom learning, the calendar also includes key extracurricular activities. Inter-secondary school competitions in soccer and volleyball are slated for October and November 2025, while track and field athletics will take place in April 2026.
The Ministry confirmed that examination dates for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will be set in collaboration with the MBSSE and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
The next academic year, 2026/2027, is scheduled to start on September 7, 2026, maintaining a consistent academic structure for students and teachers nationwide.
