The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has revealed when schools will reopen in 2023. However, it's important to note that there is not one date when learners and teachers in South Africa will return to school.
Currently, the DBE is using a staggered school calendar. This means that learners and teachers in different provinces will return to school on different days.
Schools in inland provinces will open on 9 January 2023 with learners returning to the classroom on 11 January 2023. Inland provinces include the Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West.
Schools in coastal provinces will open a week after school in inland provinces on 16 January 2023 with learners going back on 18 January 2023. Coastal provinces include the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape.
2023 School Term Dates For Inland Schools.
|
Duration |
No. of week |
No. of days |
No. of public holidays |
Actual no. of school days |
|
(9) 11 January - 24 March |
11 |
53(55) |
1+1 |
51(53) |
|
12 April - 23 June |
11 |
53 |
3+1 |
49 |
|
18 July - 29 September |
11 |
54 |
2 |
52 |
|
10 October - 13 December (15) December |
10 |
47(49) |
0 |
47(49) |
|
Total |
43 |
207(211) |
6+2 |
199(203) |
2023 School Term Dates For Coastal Schools.
|
Duration |
No. of week |
No. of days |
No. of public holidays |
Actual no. of school days |
|
(16) 18 January - 31 March |
11 |
53(55) |
1+1 |
51(53) |
|
12 April - 23 June |
11 |
53 |
3+1 |
49 |
|
18 July - 29 September |
11 |
54 |
2 |
52 |
|
10 October - 13 December (15) December |
10 |
47(49) |
0 |
47(49) |
|
Total |
43 |
207(211) |
6+2 |
199(203) |
The dates in brackets indicate when teachers will return to school for administrative purposes.
Learners are not required to attend school on public holidays in South Africa. Here’s a list of public holidays in South Africa on which learners and teachers are not required to go to school.
- 01 January: New Year’s Day
- 02 January: Public Holiday
- 20 March: Special School Holiday
- 21 March: Human Rights Day
- 7 April: Good Friday
- 10 April: Family Day
- 27 April: Freedom Day
- 28 April: Special School Holiday
- 01 May: Workers’ Day
- 16 June: Youth Day
- 9 August: National Women’s Day
- 24 September: Heritage Day
- 25 September: Public Holiday
- 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
- 25 December: Christmas Day
- 26 December: Day of Goodwill
Its important to note that some of these public holidays fall within the school holidays.
The school year will then end on 13 December 2023 for both inland and coastal schools. When the school year is complete, learners will have attended school for 199 days.
