South African learners will return to classrooms on Wednesday, 14 January, marking another year in which inland and coastal schools reopen on the same date.
The Department of Basic Education has confirmed a uniform national start date for all public schools, continuing a policy shift first implemented in 2024.
Teaching days
The approach is aimed at preventing delays to the academic year and protecting the total number of teaching days.
While learners return in mid-January, teachers and school administrators will report earlier, with the academic year for staff beginning on Monday, 12 January to allow time for planning and preparation.
The 2026 school year is structured as follows:
- Term 1: 14 January to 27 March (53 days)
- Term 2: 8 April to 26 June (54 days)
- Term 3: 21 July to 23 September (51 days)
- Term 4: 6 October to 9 December (47 days)
In total, the academic calendar includes 205 school days, along with 28 days of school holidays and five public holidays.
Youth Day long weekend
One notable adjustment is the inclusion of a special school holiday on Monday, 15 June, creating a longer break around Youth Day, which falls on Tuesday, 16 June.
Education authorities and sector stakeholders agreed on the additional holiday during annual calendar consultations.
These discussions typically involve representatives from transport authorities, religious organisations, NGOs, the private sector and the education department.
Broader calendar pressures
Explaining the continued alignment of inland and coastal school start dates, the department said public holidays and broader calendar pressures require flexibility to prevent the school year from starting too late.
“All possible steps must be taken to avoid a late start of the school year, that is, in the fourth week of January, as this pushes back all the terms,” the department said.
The department added that the school calendar is reviewed annually to ensure there is no loss in the number of days allocated for teaching and learning.
Meanwhile, as it currently stands, the results of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations will be announced by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, on Monday, 12 January 2026.
Candidates will be able to access their individual results from Tuesday, 13 January 2026.
