Surprise break for schools: Pupils get extra week off after Easter in 2025

South African pupils and teachers will enjoy an unexpected treat this April: the Department of Basic Education (DBE) will add a special week-long break to the 2025 school calendar.

The additional time off follows the Easter long weekend and will give learners a much-needed pause before heading into the latter half of the second term. While schools are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, 22 April, after Easter Monday, classes will run only until Friday, 25 April. From Monday, 28 April, to Friday, 2 May, schools will shut once more for what has been designated a “special” school holiday week.

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The break coincides with a string of public holidays. Freedom Day, which falls on Sunday, 27 April, will be observed on Monday, 28 April. This is followed by an official school holiday on Tuesday, 29 April, and Workers’ Day on Thursday, 1 May. The DBE has granted Wednesday, 30 April and Friday, 2 May, as additional school holidays, allowing for an uninterrupted week off for pupils and staff alike.

According to the department, this decision aims to support better alignment with public holidays while offering a mid-term breather that could benefit learner and teacher well-being.

With this addition, the 2025 school calendar now includes 27 school holidays—slightly more than 2024’s 25 but fewer than the 32 and 33 recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Public schools will resume as normal on Monday, 5 May.

Here’s a quick look at the rest of the 2025 public school calendar:

Term 2

• Start: 8 April 2025

• End: 17 June 2025

• Special holiday break: 29 April to 2 May

• Public holidays: Good Friday (18 April), Family Day (21 April), Freedom Day (observed 28 April), Workers’ Day (1 May), Youth Day (16 June)

• Holiday break: 27 June to 21 July

Term 3

• Start: 22 July 2025

• End: 3 October 2025

• Holiday break: 6 to 10 October

Term 4

• Start: 13 October 2025

• End: 10 December 2025

• Admin days: 11 to 12 December

Independent schools under the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA) will follow a slightly different calendar, which commenced on 15 January and will wrap up earlier on 3 December.

With a mid-term reset built into the second term, learners and educators can look forward to a lighter, more manageable school year.

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