The Department of Basic Education has confirmed that all schools in South Africa will begin their 2025 school year on 15 January. This is a continuation of the uniform start date introduced in 2024. Previously, inland schools opened earlier than coastal schools.
2025 school calendar: A unified calendar
In 2024, the department aligned inland and coastal schools’ opening dates to a single start date. This adjustment will persist in 2025.
According to BusinessTech, Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga, commenting on why inland and coastal schools are now starting on the same day, said, “All possible steps must be taken to avoid a late start of the school year – that is, in the fourth week of January – as this pushes back all the terms.”
“Each year, the Department reviews the impact of the policy and considers the number of days that will be available in the coming years based on the national calendar.
“The focus is on ensuring that there is no loss in terms of the number of days allocated for schooling,” he added.
The calendar
The 2025 school calendar is structured into four terms. This ensures a balanced school year with breaks for learners and educators:
- Term 1: 15 January to 28 March, followed by a 10-day holiday (29 March to 7 April).
- Term 2: 8 April to 17 June, with a winter break from 18 June to 8 July.
- Term 3: 22 July to 3 October, including a mid-term break (6 to 10 October).
- Term 4: 13 October to 10 December.
What are your thoughts on the unified school calendar?
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