The 2025 school year will span from 15 January to 10 December, comprising a total of 199 school days. For many South African children, 15 January will mark their first day of primary school or high school.
Many provincial education departments have revealed when 2025 school admission applications will open with some having already opened.
Here are the 2025 school application opening dates, along with their closing dates.
2025 School Admission Application Dates
Western Cape
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) opened school enrollment applications for 2025 for Grade 1 and 8 only on 11 March.
2025 WCED school admission initial applications period closed on 12 April and late applications closed on 12 May.
Kwazulu-Natal
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has officially opened the 2025 admission application period, with KZN school admission applications having opened on 2 April.
The Learner Admissions Period for all public schools in KwaZulu-Natal will close on 30 September 2024.
Northern Cape
The Northern Cape Education Department opened the online school admissions application portal for the 2024 learners admissions on 15 April 2024 and closed on 15 May 2024.
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape Department of Education opened their 2025 admissions application and closed applications at the end of June.
Gauteng
The Gauteng Department of Education has not yet confirmed the 2025 admissions application dates.
Free State
2025 school admission applications are now open in the Free State and have been since 3 April. Free State school admission applications will close on 30 August.
Limpopo
The Limpopo Department of Education has opened the school admissions application period. Parents have until 31 July 2024 to collect and submit admission applications.
Mpumalanga
The Mpumalanga Department of Education has opened their 2025 school admissions period. Applications opened on 2 May and will close on 30 August.
North West
2025 school admission applications are opened in the North West on 3 April and closed on 22 June.
Parents and guardians living within a specific province are required to submit school applications on behalf of their children during the admission application period set by the Provincial Education Department.
The method parents and guardians use to submit school applications, what documentation is required and when they will receive the outcome of their child's application are also determined by the PED.
2025 School Calendar
Schools in inland provinces typically commence on a different date than those in coastal provinces, usually with a one-week gap between them. However, for 2025, schools across the country will commence the first term on the same date (15 January 2025) and conclude it 52 school days later (28 March 2025).
Term Dates
- Term 1: 15 January - 28 March
- Term 2: 8 April – 27 June
- Term 3: 22 July – 3 October
- Term 4: 13 Oct – 10 December
The 2025 school year will therefore come to an end on 10 December for both inland and coastal schools.
