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.
- Website: www.isasa.org
- Download a copy of the 2014 Central Regional Calendar
Source: National Education Policy Act: 2014 school calendar for public schools [PDF] and the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa