The school year in South Africa goes from January to December. South Africa has four school holidays: a two-week vacation in March/April, a three-week break in June/July, a one-week break in September/October, and a lengthier break of five to six weeks in December/January. On public holidays, schools are also closed. Every school year, there are also additional days off. The South African school year lasts around 200 days.
Privately managed foreign schools in South Africa may have somewhat different vacation dates than state schools, therefore if your child is privately schooled, verify the yearly calendar with their school.
In South Africa, school holidays are generally used by families to come together to celebrate special occasions such as Christmas, to take family vacations or day excursions, or to organise fun activities for children. Some of South Africa’s yearly festivals may also coincide with school holidays.
In South Africa, how many school terms are there in a year?
South African public schools adhere to the Department of Basic Education’s four school terms and public holidays. Private schools, including pre-primary schools, establish their own school calendars, with either four terms or three terms with brief mid-term holidays.
In South Africa, how many days may a child be away from school?
If a student is absent for 10 consecutive school days, his or her record in the class register must be deleted due to continuous absence.
Is school attendance required in South Africa?
Parliament has imposed a legal obligation on parents of children in the obligatory school-age range to guarantee that their children attend school unless excused by the Head of Department (SASA, sections 3 and 4).
