Get Ready for the 2025 School Year with Key Dates and Holidays
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has officially confirmed the school term dates and public holidays for 2025, giving students, parents, and educators a clear view of what to expect in the coming academic year. With a new set of holiday arrangements and a consistent calendar across all provinces, it’s time to plan ahead. Let’s dive into the important dates and public holidays for 2025.
Key Dates for the 2025 School Calendar
The 2025 academic year will begin on Wednesday, 15 January 2025, and conclude on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, making it a full year of 200 school days. Unlike previous years where inland and coastal schools had different term dates, the DBE has confirmed that 2025 will follow a uniform school calendar across all regions of South Africa.
Term Breakdown and School Holidays
- Term 1:
- Start: 15 January 2025
- End: 28 March 2025
- Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January 2025), Human Rights Day (21 March 2025)
- School Holidays: 29 March – 7 April 2025
- Term 2:
- Start: 8 April 2025
- End: 27 June 2025
- Public Holidays: Good Friday (18 April 2025), Family Day (21 April 2025), Freedom Day (27 April 2025), Workers’ Day (1 May 2025), Youth Day (16 June 2025)
- School Holidays: 28 June – 21 July 2025, Special School Holidays: 18 June – 8 July 2025
- Term 3:
- Start: 22 July 2025
- End: 3 October 2025
- Public Holidays: National Women’s Day (9 August 2025), Heritage Day (24 September 2025)
- School Holidays: 6 – 10 October 2025
- Term 4:
- Start: 13 October 2025
- End: 10 December 2025
- Public Holidays: Day of Reconciliation (16 December 2025), Christmas Day (25 December 2025), Day of Goodwill (26 December 2025)
- Administration Days: 11-12 December 2025
Notable Changes in Public Holidays
For the 2025 school year, there are three additional holidays due to the Public Holidays Act of 1994, which ensures that if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will also be observed. These added holidays are:
- Tuesday, 29 April 2025
- Wednesday, 30 April 2025
- Friday, 2 May 2025
Full List of Public Holidays in 2025:
- 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 for Freedom Day observed
- 1 May: Workers’ Day
- 16 June: Youth Day
- 9 August: National Women’s Day (Observed on Saturday)
- 24 September: Heritage Day
- 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
- 25 December: Christmas Day
- 26 December: Day of Goodwill
Preparing for the Year Ahead
With a structured and predictable school calendar for 2025, parents and students can now plan better for school holidays, long weekends, and public holidays. These dates not only provide clarity on when students will attend school but also offer opportunities for family vacations and other engagements.
Be sure to mark these key dates in your calendar to ensure you don’t miss out on important holidays, breaks, and administrative days for the year ahead.
Also read: Gauteng Education Achieves Milestone: All Grade 1 Pupils with Completed Applications Placed
