For the 2024 school year, public schools across the country will have 203 instructional days spread over 43 weeks.
With the 2023 school year having ended on 13 December, learners will then be heading back to school just over a month later on 17 January.
Term dates for all public schools in 2024:
- First Term: 17 January - 20 March
- Second Term: 3 April - 14 June
- Third Term: 9 July - 20 September
- Fourth Term: 1 October - 13 December
Public and School Holidays for 2024
New Year's Day 1 January 2024
Human Rights Day 21 March 2024
Good Friday 29 March 2024
Family Day 1 April 2024
Freedom Day 27 April 2024
Workers Day 1 May 2024
Youth Day 16 June 2024
Public Holiday 17 June 2024
National Women's Day 9 August 2024
Heritage Day 24 September 2024
Day of Reconciliation 16 December 2024
Christmas Day 25 December 2024
Day of Goodwill 26 December 2024
The 2024 school year will then come to an end on 13 December for schools across South Africa.
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.
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.
