Revised South Africa School Calendar and Holiday 2020/2021

The South African Government Department of Basic Education (DBE) has published the revised school calendar and holidays for 2020/2021 and 2019/2020 session. All new and admitted students should take note of this calendar.

The new South Africa academic calendar reflects the resumption dates for students and holidays for new and returning students. It also shows the examination date and other school activities. It will show the date South African schools will resume.

Below is the revised South Africa Government Department of Basic Education academic calendar for both primary and high school students for the 2019/1010 and 2020/2021 academic sessions.

 

DBE REVISED ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR

Here is the academic calendar and holidays for the 2020/2021 and 2019/2020 sessions approved by the Department of Basic Education.

South African School Holidays 2020:

Term 2

• Monday 8 June: Schools opened for Term 2
• Tuesday 16 June: Youth Day
• Friday 27 July: Schools close
• Sunday 9 August: Women’s Day; Monday 10 August is a public holiday

Term 3

• Monday 24 August: Schools open for Term 3
• Monday  26 October: Schools close
• Thursday 24 September: Heritage Day

Term 4

• Monday 2 November: Schools open for Term 4
• Tuesday 15 December: School’s out!
• Wednesday 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day
• Saturday 26 December: Day of Goodwill

In 2020 Christmas falls on a Friday, and the Day of Goodwill is on a Saturday.

The school holidays 2020 at a glance:

• October 2020 holiday: Schools close briefly from Monday 26 October and reopen Monday 2 November.
• December 2020 holiday: Schools close on Tuesday 15 December.

The Revised Department of Basic Education (DBE) School Calendar – 2020

Week	Date	School arrangements after the break
1	27 – 31 Jul 2020	– The principal and the School Management Team will determine the staffing requirements to ensure compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist with the distribution of learning material and the roll-out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners. – The principal and the School Management Team must be on duty to make arrangements for the receipt of the learners anticipated in the weeks ahead. – Schools will remain open for feeding of qualifying learners in terms of the National School Nutrition Programme.
2	3 – 7 Aug 2020	– Grade 12 and Schools of Skill: Year 4 learners will return to school on 3 August 2020. – Grade 12 and Schools of Skill: Year 4 teachers (and teacher support staff) will return to school on 3 August 2020. – The principal and the School Management Team (as required) will be in attendance at school. – Officials (as identified by the principal and the School Management Team) will return to school on 3 August 2020, to assist in ensuring compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist in the distribution of learning material and the roll-out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners.
3	11–14 Aug 2020	– Grade 7 learners will return to school on 11 August 2020. – Grade 7 officials (and teacher support staff) will return to school on 11 August 2020. – The principal and the School Management Team (as required) will be in attendance at school. – Officials, who are at school, will assist in ensuring compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist in the distribution of learning material and the roll-out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners.
4	17– 21 Aug 2020	– All officials will report for duty on 17 August 2020 to prepare for the return of learners in the remaining grades. – Grade 7; Grade 12; and Schools of Skill: Year 4 learners and officials will already be at school. – Officials who are already at school will assist in ensuring compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements and to assist in the distribution of learning material and the roll-out of the daily school feeding programme for all qualifying learners.
5	24 Aug 2020	(a) Learners in the following grades, years or schools will return to school on 24 August 2020: – Grade R; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; Grade 4; and Grade 6; -Grade 9; Grade 10; and Grade 11; – Schools of Skill: Year 1; Year 2; and Year 3; – Schools with Learners with Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities (“LSPID”): Year 1; Year 2; and Year 3; – Schools for Learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities (“SID”): Grade R; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; and final year (Occupational); and – Schools with autistic learners: Junior group (below 13 years); Senior Group (13 years and above); and final year (18 years and above). (b) The school must ensure compliance with the health, safety and social distancing requirements in accommodating this group of learners.
6	31 Aug 2020	Learners in the following grades or schools will return to school on 31 August 2020: – Grade 5 and Grade 8; and – Schools for Learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities (“SID”): Grade 4 and Grade 5.