School holidays 2024 in South Africa: An essential guide

School holidays 2024 in South Africa: An essential guide

The South African school calendar is determined by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) at the national level. Between extracurriculars, exam periods and school holidays, there are plenty of important dates to add to your diaries. This article provides all the details regarding the school holidays 2024 in South Africa.

A teacher and students sat together at a table.
A teacher and students sat together at a table. Photo: pexels.com, @rdne (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The South African school calendar lists all the dates related to the commencement and end of a term, as well as various holidays and school days. Students and teachers plan their upcoming months per the calendar's requirements and be assured of making the best of it. What dates are the school holidays in SA?

School Holidays 2024 in South Africa

South Africa has two different school calendars; for the government schools, which breaks the year into four terms, and for the private institutions, which breaks the year into three or four terms. Within these terms, there are shorter breaks, usually a week or two in length, along with longer holidays and public holidays. Tabulated below is a list of school holidays in 2024 as per the South Africa School Calendar.

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Date

Holiday

1 January 2024

New Year’s Day

21 March 2024

Human Rights Day

29 March 2024

Good Friday

1 April 2024

Family Day

27 April 2024

Freedom Day

1 May 2024

Workers’ Day

16 June 2024

Youth Day

17 June 2024

Public Holiday

9 August 2024

National Women’s Day

24 September 2024

Heritage Day

16 December 2024

Day of Reconciliation

25 December 2024

Christmas Day

26 December 2024

Day of Goodwill

Note: Privately-run international schools in South Africa may have slightly different holiday dates from state schools. Many IEB institutions follow the public school calendar, while other IEB schools follow an association calendar.

South African holidays in 2024
Student looking at her teacher. Photo: pexels.com, @pavel-danilyuk (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Term dates for all public schools in 2024

What are the school terms for 2024? The 2024 school year commenced on 17 January 2024 in term 1 and will conclude on 11 December 2024 during term 4. Keeping those dates in mind, here are the term dates for all schools in 2024:

First term – 46 (48) days

Opening date

17 January

Closing date

20 March

Number of public holidays

0

Number of days

46 (48)

Actual number of school days

46 (48)

Number of weeks

10

Every year, schools in South Africa have a special plan called a "school calendar." This plan shows when holidays happen and when important school activities occur. In 2024, South African schools are preparing for another year of learning sessions and holidays.

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Second Term – 52 (53) days

Opening date

3 April

Closing date

14 June

Number of public holidays

1

Number of days

52

Actual number of school days

53

Number of weeks

11

Families in South Africa often utilise school holidays to gather and celebrate events such as Christmas, embark on family vacations, enjoy day outings, or organise engaging activities for children.

Third Term – (48 days)

Opening date

9 July

Closing date

20 September

Number of public holidays

1

Number of days

52

The actual number of school days

53

Number of weeks

11

The 2024 South African school calendar aims to offer a year packed with academic activities designed to provide learners with enhanced learning opportunities. Holidays should help learners to relieve themselves of the pressure they experience in class. It will help them return to class feeling fresh and eager to learn more.

Fourth Term – 52 (54) days

Opening date

1 October

Closing date

13 December

Number of public holidays

0

Number of days

52 (54)

Actual number of school days

52 (54)

Number of weeks

11

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2024 School Calendar: IEB Schools

Students raising hands in classroom.
Students raising hands in the classroom. pexels.com, @rdne (modified by author)
Source: UGC

When considering the school calendar for IEB institutions, it is crucial to understand that there is no standard set of dates or calendars applicable to all independent schools in South Africa. While some IEB schools align with the public school calendar, others adhere to an association-specific calendar.

Some IEB schools adhere to unique calendars. The ISASA Calendar Committee for the Central Region (covering Gauteng, Free State, Northwest, and Northern Cape) releases a Central Region Calendar as a reference for member schools in the area. While ISASA member schools are not obligated to adopt this calendar, most typically do.

What is the longest school holiday in South Africa?

The longest school holiday in South Africa occurs during the December/January period. Students enjoy a five to six-week break during this time.

How many school terms will there be in 2024?

There are four school terms in 2024 for South African public schools. Most private schools also use the four-term calendar, while others use a three-term calendar.

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How many days of school holidays will there be in 2024?

The Department of Basic Education decreased the number of holidays for the year, providing just 25 days off. This is opposed to previous years, which saw learners getting 32 days off in 2023 and 33 days in 2022.

The Department of Basic Education determines the dates of government school terms and school holidays in South Africa. There are four terms in a school year, with a holiday in between terms. Above is a list of school holidays for 2024 in South Africa to help you plan vacations or any necessary arrangements.

DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Rodah Mogeni avatar

Rodah Mogeni (Lifestyle writer) She is a content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Chuka University with a BA degree in Journalism and Mass Communication (2023). She joined Briefly in 2019. Rodah has been working as a health/fitness writer at BetterMe (since 2020), London Brokers, The Hoth, and Ardor Content. In 2023, Rodah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Her email is rodahmugeni998@gmail.com

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