As the festive season winds down, many parents and learners are beginning to prepare for the upcoming school year. South African schools will reopen on Wednesday, 15 January 2025, officially ending the extended summer break.
Learners and educators marked the close of the 2024 school year on Wednesday, 11 December, some on 13 December. With just over two weeks left of the holidays, anticipation is building for a fresh academic start. The Basic Education Department has outlined a school calendar with four terms, each separated by scheduled and public holidays.
Key term dates for 2025 School holidays
The 2025 school year will start with the first term from 15 January to 28 March, followed by a 10-day holiday from 29 March to 7 April. The second term will begin on 8 April and end on 17 June, giving way to a winter break until 8 July.
The third term, commencing on 22 July, will conclude on 3 October, with a short mid-term break from 6 to 10 October. Finally, the fourth term will start on 13 October and end on 10 December 2025, capping off the year.
Privacy concerns overshadow matric results
Meanwhile, controversy looms over the publication of the 2024 matric results. The Information Regulator fined the Department of Basic Education R5 million for failing to comply with an enforcement notice regarding the privacy of learners.
The notice, issued on 18 November, required the department to provide written assurance that matric results would not be published in newspapers. The department missed the 19 December deadline, triggering the penalty.
According to EWN, Mhlanga stated, “We filed our papers within the given minimum period for doing so and that our papers are firmly in the courts.”
Despite the legal battle, the department plans to publish the matric results as usual.
As learners gear up to return to school, parents may wonder if privacy concerns, and legal disputes could overshadow the department’s preparations for 2025.
Do you believe schools are ready to meet the demands of a new school year?
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