Since May this year, provincial education departments around South Africa opened their 2024 school admission applications for grade 1 and 8 learners with many concluding in September/October. Now, the Department of Basic Education has provided an update.
While answering a question from a Member of Parliament, the Department revealed that all primary schools and secondary schools started preparing for admissions of grade 1 and 8 as early as the beginning of term two this year. It was then said:
By October 2023, reports on placements from Provinces indicated that almost 65% of learners in the two grades have been placed.
The Department receives accumulative statistics on placements from provinces on a monthly basis and explained that to ensure that placements are made in time, the following is done:
- Different forms of advocacy have been employed by provinces to let parents apply for placements.
- There are dedicated officials per province assigned to handle learner admissions.
- Schools have been directed via Circulars on managing learner placements.
- The DBE holds meetings with provinces to deliberate on matters pertaining to learner admissions.
2024 School Calendar
In previous years the schools in coastal provinces started at a different time to schools located at inland provinces. The Basic Education Department has decided that all public schools across the country will now start and end their school terms at the same time.
Term dates for all schools:
- First Term: 17 January - 20 March
- Second Term: 3 April - 14 June
- Third Term 9 July - 20 September
- Fourth Term 1 October - 13 December
Consequently, all schools' academic years will conclude on 13 December.
The South African school calendar is typically determined by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) at the national level, in consultation with provincial education departments, school governing bodies, and other stakeholders.
