As the 2024 academic year draws to a close, South African students are preparing to finish term 4, which began on 1 October. The term is set to conclude between 11 and 13 December, depending on the school district.
A new normal for school calendars
In 2024, the Department of Basic Education changed school start dates across the country, aligning the start times for both inland and coastal schools. This adjustment will continue into 2025, with all schools set to start on 15 January and end on 10 December 2025.
Previously, inland schools opened in the second week of January, while coastal schools resumed in the third week.
BusinessTech reported that, however, spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga explained the reasoning behind the new alignment: “The aim is to allocate different dates to the two clusters in the first term so that traffic density before the opening of schools is kept within acceptable levels.”
Addressing traffic and logistical Issues
One of the main reasons for the change is traffic congestion. According to Mhlanga, beginning a school term on a Monday leads to high traffic flow on the preceding Sunday. “This leaves insufficient time for school hostel staff to prepare for the return of learners,” he added.
To minimise the impact on traffic and ensure smoother transitions between school terms, the department now schedules all schools to start at the same time.
Mhlanga also addressed the department’s approach to balancing the calendar across regions: “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.”
The department continues to review its policies annually to ensure that school calendars are fair and efficient.
What are your thoughts on the new calendar alignment? Do you think it’s a positive change, or do you prefer the old system?
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