National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996)PoliciesNational Policy for Determining School Calendars for Public Schools in South Africa6. Clusters and Staggering |
| 6.1 | Determination of clusters |
| 6.1.1 | The nine provinces are divided into the following two clusters: |
| (a) | Inland provinces: Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West. |
| (b) | Coastal provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Western Cape. |
| 6.1.2 | When the school calendar is planned, different dates must be allocated to the two clusters. However, a common calendar may be considered under exceptional circumstances, to be determined by the Minister. |
| 6.2 | Staggered closing and opening times |
| 6.2.1 | In the first term, the schools in the two clusters must open and close on different dates. This means, taking account of sub-paragraph 6.3.2, that, except in very unusual circumstances, one cluster must start on the Wednesday a week after the other cluster. |
| 6.2.2 | As mentioned in sub-paragraph 4.2, the structure of the school calendar must take account of traffic flow. In particular, the aim is to allocate different dates to the two clusters in the first term so that traffic density before the opening of schools for the new school year is kept within acceptable levels. |
| 6.2.3 | School terms for learners must not begin on a Monday, as starting a term on a Monday leads to high traffic flow on the preceding Sunday and leaves insufficient time for school hostel staff to prepare for the return of learners. |
| 6.3 | Criteria for the scheduling of school terms |
| 6.3.1 | Opening of schools in January |
The inland schools must open during the second week of January, while coastal schools must open during the third week of January.
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.
| 6.3.2 | First day of the school year |
In January, the school term must start on a Wednesday to reduce traffic flow on the last Sunday of the school holidays (as mentioned in sub-paragraphs 4.2 and 6.2.2). Educators must report for work two days before the learners – that is, on the Monday before the learners start – to finalise preparations for the new academic year.
| 6.3.3 | Last day of the school year |
The fourth school term must end at the first full school week of December. Educators must close two (2) school days later after the closure of schools for learners.
| 6.4 | Scheduling of school terms with reference to public holidays |
| 6.4.1 | Easter holidays |
Although the dates of the Easter weekend differ from year to year, every effort must be made, where possible, to have the Easter weekend fall within the school holiday in order to prevent disruption of the teaching and learning programme.
| 6.4.2 | Scheduling dates of school holidays in relation to public holidays |
If a long weekend begins on a public holiday that falls on a Friday, and such weekend coincides with the beginning of the school holidays, schools must close on the Wednesday and not on the Thursday. If a public holiday falls on the first Monday of the school holidays, schools must close on the previous Thursday and not on the Friday.
| 6.4.3 | Scheduling dates of school terms in relation to public holidays |
When the calendar is planned, every effort must be made to ensure that there is no public holiday during the first or last week of a school term. Public holidays that occur during the first or last week of a school term disrupt the academic work of the school.
| 6.4.4 | Public holidays falling on Tuesdays or Thursdays |
Where a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, the Monday before or the Friday after the public holiday must be declared a school holiday.
| 6.4.5 | Public holidays in April |
If it happens that, owing to public and school holidays in April, a week has only two school days, those two days must be declared school holidays to avoid disruption of the teaching and learning programme.