School holidays: Students score an extra week off — Here are the dates

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The Department of Basic Education has granted three special school holidays around public holidays, giving pupils a week off.

With just two weeks since students returned to their learning, an extra week of holiday will be granted later this month.

According to the Department of Education, three additional school holidays were added in line with the Public Holidays Act of 1994.

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As Freedom Day falls on a Sunday, 27 April, Monday, 28 April, will be a public holiday.

According to the 2025 public school calendar, Tuesday, 29 April and Wednesday, 30 April, are special school holidays.

In the same week, Workers’ Day will fall on Thursday, 1 May.

Students get another special school holiday on Friday, 2 May.

April/May public holidays

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Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key dates on the 2025 school calendar to help parents stay ahead of the game.

TERM 1:

Schools start: 15 January 2025;
Schools close: 28 March 2025;
Public holidays: New Year’s Day (1 January 2025), Human Rights Day (21 March 2025); and
School holidays: 29 March to 7 April 2025.

Second term:

Schools start: 8 April 2025;
Schools close: 17 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);
Special school holidays: 29 April to 2 May 2025; and
School holidays: 18 June to 8 July 2025.

Third term:

School start: 22 July 2025;
School closes: 3 October 2025;
Public holidays: National Women’s Day (9 August 2025), Heritage Day (24 September 2025); and
School holidays: 6 to 10 October 2025.

Fourth term:

School start: 13 October 2025;
School closes: 10 December 2025;
Administration days: 11 to 12 December 2025; and
Public holidays: Day of Reconciliation (16 December 2025), Christmas Day (25 December 2025), Day of Goodwill (26 December 2025).

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