Fynbos DeskSouth Africa 2027 school calendar: term dates, school holidays and public holidays
Whether you're a parent booking leave or a teacher mapping out the year, it helps to have the whole 2027 school year in one place. Here are the official 2027 term dates for South African public schools, the school holidays, every public holiday, and a few practical ways to plan around them.
2027 term dates for public schools
The 2027 calendar for public schools was published by the Minister of Basic Education in Government Gazette No. 52178 (Government Notice 5902, 25 February 2025). The same term dates apply in all provinces.
| Term | Opens | Closes | Weeks | School days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Wednesday 13 January 2027 (educators: Monday 11 January) | Friday 19 March 2027 | 10 | 48 (50) |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 6 April 2027 | Friday 25 June 2027 | 12 | 56 |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 20 July 2027 | Wednesday 22 September 2027 | 10 | 46 |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 5 October 2027 | Wednesday 8 December 2027 (educators: Friday 10 December) | 10 | 47 (49) |
In total that's 197 school days for learners (201 for educators). The extra educator days are the administration days on 11–12 January and 9–10 December.
2027 school holidays
The school holidays are the breaks between terms:
- After Term 1: Saturday 20 March – Monday 5 April 2027 (this break includes Easter)
- After Term 2: Saturday 26 June – Monday 19 July 2027
- After Term 3: Thursday 23 September – Monday 4 October 2027
- End of year: learners finish on 8 December 2027. At the start of the year, learners are back on 13 January 2027.
There's also a special school holiday on Monday 26 April 2027, the day before Freedom Day. Schools are closed, but it isn't a public holiday, so most workplaces stay open.
The gazette shows the holidays as shaded days rather than a list; the spans above run from the day after one term closes to the day before the next opens.
2027 public holidays in South Africa
Two holidays fall on a Sunday in 2027 (Human Rights Day and the Day of Goodwill). Under the Public Holidays Act, the following Monday becomes a public holiday.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Friday 1 January | New Year's Day |
| Sunday 21 March | Human Rights Day |
| Monday 22 March | Public holiday (Human Rights Day falls on a Sunday) |
| Friday 26 March | Good Friday |
| Monday 29 March | Family Day |
| Monday 26 April | Special school holiday (schools only) |
| Tuesday 27 April | Freedom Day |
| Saturday 1 May | Workers' Day |
| Wednesday 16 June | Youth Day |
| Monday 9 August | National Women's Day |
| Friday 24 September | Heritage Day |
| Thursday 16 December | Day of Reconciliation |
| Saturday 25 December | Christmas Day |
| Sunday 26 December | Day of Goodwill |
| Monday 27 December | Public holiday (Day of Goodwill falls on a Sunday) |
Workers' Day and Christmas Day fall on a Saturday in 2027. The Act only moves Sunday holidays, so there's no extra day off for those.
Long weekends in 2027
Working from the dates above, these are the weekends of three days or more:
- Friday 1 – Sunday 3 January (New Year's Day)
- Saturday 20 – Monday 22 March (Human Rights Day)
- Friday 26 – Monday 29 March (Easter: 4 days)
- Saturday 24 – Tuesday 27 April (4 days for schools only, thanks to the 26 April special school holiday)
- Saturday 7 – Monday 9 August (Women's Day)
- Friday 24 – Sunday 26 September (Heritage Day)
- Saturday 25 – Monday 27 December (Christmas)
The gazette doesn't list long weekends; we worked these out from its dates.
Planning the year: tips for parents and teachers
For parents
- Put the holiday dates in your diary now. If you need leave over the school holidays, the dates above let you ask early.
- Watch out for 26 April. Schools are closed on Monday 26 April, but most workplaces aren't, so you may need childcare for that day.
- Check your own school's calendar. Independent schools set their own dates, and individual schools may have extra closure days.
- Add the dates to your phone. A calendar file (.ics) imports term dates and holidays in one go, so you don't have to type them in.
For teachers
- Term 2 is the longest term at 12 weeks, but it loses 3 school days to the special school holiday, Freedom Day and Youth Day. Plan assessments around them.
- Term 1 starts on a Wednesday for learners (13 January), after two admin days on 11 and 12 January.
- Term 3 has one public holiday (Women's Day, Monday 9 August) and ends on a Wednesday, two days before Heritage Day.
- Term 4 ends on Wednesday 8 December for learners, with admin days on 9 and 10 December.
- Count your teaching days per term (48, 56, 46 and 47 for learners) when you pace your work schedule.
Quick answers
When does school start in 2027?
Learners at public schools start on Wednesday 13 January 2027. Educators start on Monday 11 January 2027.
When does school close in December 2027?
Learners finish on Wednesday 8 December 2027; educators finish on Friday 10 December 2027.
How many school days are there in 2027?
197 for learners and 201 for educators, according to the gazette's summary.
Are the dates the same in every province?
Yes, for public schools: the 2027 calendar is a national calendar. Independent schools set their own dates.
Sources
- Government Gazette No. 52178, Government Notice 5902: 2027 Calendar for Public Schools (Department of Basic Education, 25 February 2025)
- Department of Basic Education: Publications (2027 School Calendar)
- Western Cape Government: School calendar
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, section 2(1) (a Sunday public holiday moves to the Monday)
Dates checked on 22 October 2026. If the calendar is amended later, the amended dates apply. Always confirm with your school.
This article was written with AI assistance and reviewed by a human. Fynbos Desk is independent and not affiliated with the Department of Basic Education.