Schedule reminder: Today marks the final day of term 3

Students in South Africa will conclude Term 3 on Friday, 20 September.

The third term comprised 53 schools days, making it the longest of the year.

It won’t be a long holiday, however, with schools reopening for the fourth and final term on Tuesday, 1 October.

The final term of the year will comprise 52 days and end on Wednesday, 11 December.

Same calendar throughout South Africa

As reported by The South African website, in a change from previous years, all public schools – both inland and at the coast – will follow the same term calendar in 2024.

There is no longer a difference between inland and coastal schools breaking up and returning to school as was previously the case.

To note: Inland provinces are the Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West, while the coastal provinces are the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

The Department of Basic Education’s 2024 school calendar shows that this year will comprise of 203 school days across four terms, which is four more days than was the case in 2023.

Dates for the 2024 school terms

• Term 1: 17 January to 20 March (46 days)
• Term 2: 3 April to 14 June (52 days)
• Term 3: 9 July to 20 September (53 days)
• Term 4: 1 October to 11 December (52 days)

Meanwhile, South Africa will have 14 public holidays in 2024 – which includes an additional day off to celebrate one public holiday which falls on a Sunday.

As mentioned, some will fall during school holidays, others will be welcome mid-week breaks for learners.

In a typical year, South Africa has 12 public holidays, which is roughly the average when compared to other countries.

The global average for public holidays is 11 days.

Workers in most European countries enjoy 10-14 public holidays a year. The United Kingdom, however, has only eight.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Myanmar has 30 public holidays, while Sri Lanka, Iran, India and China have 29, 27, 21 and 17, respectively.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN 2024

Monday, 1 January: New Year’s Day – Passed

Thursday, 21 March: Human Rights Day – Passed

Friday, 29 March: Good Friday – Passed

Monday, 1 April: Family Day – Passed

Saturday, 27 April: Freedom Day – Passed

Wednesday, 1 May: Workers’ Day – Passed

Wednesday, 29 May: Voting Day – Passed

Sunday, 16 June: Youth Day – Passed

Monday, 17 June: Public holiday Youth Day observed – Passed

Friday, 9 August: National Women’s Day – Passed

Tuesday, 24 September: Heritage Day

Monday, 16 December: Day of Reconciliation

Wednesday, 25 December: Christmas Day

Thursday, 26 December: Day of Goodwill