South Africa School Holidays 2025 : South African parents and learners across the country might soon be ready to receive good news, with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) reviewing the 2025 school calendar. The DBE is considering giving learners an extended September break, so families can relax, travel, and get ready for the last term of the academic year.
Reason For The Change
The change proposed by the DBE has been informed by conversations with various education stakeholders, teachers’ unions as well as with provincial departments. The concern that is being addressed is the optimisation of the teaching and learning time in relation to the overall well-being of the learners. A lot of concern has been expressed regarding the current calendar and its capacity to provide learners, especially Grade 12 learners, ample recovery time before the exam and finals—that is the “take a breather” window.
In an effort to better align the calendar with national public holidays, schools believe that the longer September break will help pupils to regain their mental strength and relax.
What Parents And Students Should Know
Should the revised calendar be approved, the holiday break would commence on the 19th of September, 2025, ushering in the September holiday season. The holidays are expected to extend for two weeks with a tentative reopening in the first week of October. This marks a marginal increase of holidays, given that in earlier years there were only 10 days of holidays in the month of September.
Ahead of time, parents should be notified of the travel and childcare plans. The extended vacation period might allow an enhanced pick in the marketing of domestic tourists thus helping the economies at the local levels.
Effect On Exams And The Final Term
Although the longer vacation gives a chance to mentally rejuvenate, it also probably means a strained final term in 2025 to follow. The DBE has assured guardians that the timetable would be optimised for the benefit of all learners to ensure they are not negatively impacted, As teachers are expected to finish the syllabus and to prepare for the year-end exams the time will be stretched, and to keep with the DBE guidelines, time will be needed to keep with the DBE guidelines.
In particular, Grade 12 learners should optimally utilise the holidays. During the holidays, education specialists suggest that matric students strike a balance between rest and steady revision so as not to lag behind.
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