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2014 guide to school and public holidays

Brand South Africa
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January 27th, 2014

27 January 2014

The school terms of state schools in South Africa are set by the Department of Basic Education. This year, all government schools in South Africa have the same school calendar, which includes an extended break at the end of April. In addition to the official public holidays on 27 April (Freedom Day) and 1 May (Workers Day), the department has granted 29, 30 April and 2 May as extra school holidays.

SCHOOL TERMS

Note: these dates are applicable to both primary and high schools in South Africa.

TERM ONE: 15 January to 28 March

There are 52 days of school and one public holiday in the first term:

Friday, 21 March – Human Rights Day

TERM TWO: 7 April to 27 June

Although at 60 days this looks like a long term, the Department of Education has included an extra three school holidays, reducing the number of actual school days to 52. The second term looks like this:

Friday, 18 April – Good Friday
Monday, 21 April – Easter Monday/ Family Day
Sunday, 27 April – Freedom Day
Monday 28 April – Public holiday (Freedom Day rolled over to Monday. In South Africa, if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following becomes a public holiday.)
Tuesday, 29 April – School holiday
Wednesday, 30 April – School holiday
Thursday, 1 May – Worker’s Day
Friday, 2 May – School holiday
Monday, 16 June – Youth Day

TERM THREE: 21 July to 3 October

There are 54 school days and two public holiday in the third term, although only one falls within the school week:

Saturday, 9 August – Women’s Day
Wednesday, 24 September – Heritage Day

TERM FOUR: 13 October – 4 December

At 43 actual school days, this is the shortest term of the year. There are no public holidays that fall within the fourth term.

STATE SCHOOL TERMS

First term	15 January – 28 March
Second term	7 April – 27 June
Third term	21 July – 3 October
Fourth term	13 October – 10 December

PUBLIC AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

1 January	New Year’s Day
21 March	Human Rights Day
18 April	Good Friday
21 April	Family Day
27 April	Freedom Day
28 April	Public Holiday
29 April	School Holiday
30 April	School Holiday
1 May	Workers’ Day
2 May	School Holiday
16 June	Youth Day
9 August	Women’s Day
24 September	Heritage Day
16 December	Day of Reconciliation
25 December	Christmas Day
26 December	Day of Goodwill

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL TERMS

According to the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa, only the provinces that fall under the “central region” grouping – ie Gauteng, Free State, North West and Northern Cape – publish a term date calendar. Schools in the other regions either follow the provincial state calendar or their own specific calendars. Contact the school for details.