The current and proposed school holidays for South Africa.
2020
2021
2020
National State of Disaster
Re-opening of schools
The Department of Basic Education published the consolidated examination timetable on 12 August 2020.
The Department of Basic Education published the amended school calendar for 2020 on 11 August 2020.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (13) 15 Jan - 18 Mar | 10 | 48 (46) | 0 | 48 (46) |
2 | (1 Jun) 8 Jun - 24 Jul | 8 (7) | (40) 35 | 1 | (39) 34 |
3 | 24 Aug - 23 Oct | 9 | 45 | 1 | 44 |
4 | 2 Nov - 15 Dec | 7 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
| Total | (34) 33 | (165) 158 | 2 | (163) 156 |
All public schools will break from 27 July 2020 and the school arrangements after the break are as follows:
Week | Date | School arrangements after break |
1 | 27 - 31 Jul 2020 | - The principal and the School Management Team will determine the staffing requirements to ensure compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist with the distribution of learning material and the roll out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners. - The principal and the School Management Team must be on duty to make arrangements for the receipt of the learners anticipated in the weeks ahead. - Schools will remain open for feeding of qualifying learners in terms of the National School Nutrition Programme. |
2 | 3 – 7 Aug 2020 | - Grade 12 and Schools of Skill: Year 4 learners will return to school on 3 August 2020. - Grade 12 and Schools of Skill: Year 4 teachers (and teacher support staff) will return to school on 3 August 2020. - The principal and the School Management Team (as required) will be in attendance at school. - Officials (as identified by the principal and the School Management Team) will return to school on 3 August 2020, to assist in ensuring compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist in the distribution of learning material and the roll-out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners. |
3 | 11–14 Aug 2020 | - Grade 7 learners will return to school on 11 August 2020. - Grade 7 officials (and teacher support staff) will return to school on 11 August 2020. - The principal and the School Management Team (as required) will be in attendance at school. - Officials, who are at school, will assist in ensuring compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist in the distribution of learning material and the roll-out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners. |
4 | 17– 21 Aug 2020 | - All officials will report for duty on 17 August 2020 to prepare for the return of learners in the remaining grades. - Grade 7; Grade 12; and Schools of Skill: Year 4 learners and officials will already be at school. - Officials who are already at school will assist in ensuring compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist in the distribution of learning material and the roll-out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners. |
5 | 24 Aug 2020 | (a) Learners in the following grades, years or schools will return to school on 24 August 2020: - Grade R; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; Grade 4; and Grade 6; -Grade 9; Grade 10; and Grade 11; - Schools of Skill: Year 1; Year 2; and Year 3; - Schools with Learners with Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities (“LSPID”): Year 1; Year 2; and Year 3; - Schools for Learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities (“SID”): Grade R; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; and final year (Occupational); and - Schools with autistic learners: Junior group (below 13 years); Senior Group (13 years and above); and final year (18 years and above). (b) The school must ensure compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements in accommodating this group of learners. |
| 6 | 31 Aug 2020 | Learners in the following grades or schools will return to school on 31 August 2020: - Grade 5 and Grade 8; and - Schools for Learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities (“SID”): Grade 4 and Grade 5. |
(Gazette 43372 of 29 May 2020 as amended by Gazette 43381 of 1 June 2020 and Gazette 43488 of 29 June 2020)
Schools were closed from Wednesday, 18 March and started re-opening from 1 June 2020. Schools were again closed from 27 July to 24 August.
School calendar (before Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic)
The Department of Basic Education published the school calendar for 2020 on 11 January 2018.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (13) 15 Jan - 20 Mar | 10 | 48 (50) | 0 | 48 (50) |
2 | 31 Mar – 12 Jun | 11 | 54 | 4 | 50 |
3 | 7 Jul – 18 Sep | 11 | 54 | 1 | 53 |
4 | 29 Sep – 2 (4)Dec | 10 | 47 (49) | 0 | 47 (49) |
| Total | 42 | 203 (207) | 5 | 198 (202) |
Public and School Holidays 2020
1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
10 April: Good Friday
13 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
1 May: Workers’ Day
16 June: Youth Day
9 August: National Women’s Day
10 August: Public Holiday
24 September: Heritage Day
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
Source: National Education Policy Act: 2020 school calendar for public schools [PDF]
2021
The Department of Basic Education has published the school calendar for 2021 on 2 October 2020.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (25) 27 Jan - 31 Mar | 10 | 46 (48) | 1 | 45 (47) |
2 | 13 Apr – 25 Jun | 11 | 54 | 2+1 | 51 |
3 | 13 Jul – 23 Sept | 11 | 53 | 1 | 52 |
4 | 5 Oct – 08 (10) Dec | 10 | 47 (49) | 0 | 47 (49) |
| Total | 42 | 200 (204) | 4+1 | 195 (199) |
Public and School Holidays 2021
1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
22 March: Public Holiday
02 April: Good Friday
05 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
26 April: School Holiday
1 May: Workers’ Day
16 June: Youth Day
9 August: National Women’s Day
24 September: Heritage Day
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
27 December: Public holiday
Source: National Education Policy Act: 2021 school calendar for public schools [PDF]