[Image: Rhodes University]
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has confirmed that the 2025 school calendar includes a ‘special’ holiday week coming up after the Easter long weekend.
Following the Easter long weekend, learners and teachers will return to school from Monday, April 22, to Friday, April 25.
However, the Department of Education has announced three additional school holidays from April 28 to 30, effectively extending the break by another week.
This additional time off aligns with the week of April 28 to May 2, which includes a public holiday to observe Freedom Day (April 27), which falls on a Sunday this year. Schools will reopen on Monday, May 5.
If you’re a bit confused, here’s a summary of the upcoming holidays:
- Good Friday (18 April 2025)
- Family Day (21 April 2025)
- Freedom Day (27 April 2025)
- Workers’ Day (1 May 2025)
- Special school holidays: 29 April to 2 May 2025
The 2025 school calendar features 27 holidays – an increase from 25 in 2024 but fewer than the 32 holidays in 2023 and 33 in 2022.
[Source: IOL]
