South Africa School Calendar 2027: Full Term Dates, Holidays and Public School Calendar

Calendar

South Africa Public School Calendar 2027

Full January-to-December public-school calendar with clearly colour-coded school days, weekends, school holidays, public holidays, the Special School Holiday, educator administration days and term opening and closing dates.

13 Jan Learners start
8 Dec Learners finish
197 Actual learner school days
4 Terms National public-school calendar
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
School day Weekend School holiday Public holiday Special school holiday Educator administration Term starts Term ends

January 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1PH 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11ADM 12ADM 13T1 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Important days in January
  • 1 January — New Year’s Day
  • 11 January — Educators report
  • 12 January — Educator administration day
  • 13 January — Term 1 starts for learners

February 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28
Important days in February
  • February — No national public holiday interrupts Term 1

March 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19END 20
21PH 22PH 23 24 25 26PH 27
28 29PH 30 31
Important days in March
  • 19 March — Term 1 closes
  • 21 March — Human Rights Day
  • 22 March — Public holiday because Human Rights Day falls on Sunday
  • 26 March — Good Friday
  • 29 March — Family Day

April 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3
4 5 6T2 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26SH 27PH 28 29 30
Important days in April
  • 6 April — Term 2 starts
  • 26 April — Special School Holiday
  • 27 April — Freedom Day

May 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1PH
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
Important days in May
  • 1 May — Workers’ Day falls on Saturday

June 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16PH 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25END 26
27 28 29 30
Important days in June
  • 16 June — Youth Day
  • 25 June — Term 2 closes
  • 26 June — Winter school holiday begins

July 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20T3 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Important days in July
  • 1–19 July — Winter school holiday continues
  • 20 July — Term 3 starts

August 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9PH 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
Important days in August
  • 9 August — National Women’s Day

September 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22END 23 24PH 25
26 27 28 29 30
Important days in September
  • 22 September — Term 3 closes
  • 23 September — Spring school holiday begins
  • 24 September — Heritage Day

October 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2
3 4 5T4 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Important days in October
  • 1–4 October — Spring school holiday continues
  • 5 October — Term 4 starts

November 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
Important days in November
  • November — No national public holiday interrupts Term 4

December 2027

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8END 9ADM 10ADM 11
12 13 14 15 16PH 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25PH
26PH 27PH 28 29 30 31
Important days in December
  • 8 December — Learners finish
  • 9 December — Educator administration day
  • 10 December — Educators finish
  • 16 December — Day of Reconciliation
  • 25 December — Christmas Day
  • 26 December — Day of Goodwill
  • 27 December — Public holiday because Day of Goodwill falls on Sunday
Quick Answer

South African public schools open for learners on Wednesday, 13 January 2027 and learners finish on Wednesday, 8 December 2027. Educators report on Monday, 11 January and finish on Friday, 10 December. The official calendar provides 197 actual learner school days across four terms.

The South Africa School Calendar 2027 sets one national term structure for public schools across all nine provinces.

The calendar above uses different colours inside each month so parents, learners and educators can quickly distinguish normal school days from weekends, school holidays, public holidays, educator administration days, term opening dates and term closing dates.

A particularly important date during 2027 is Monday, 26 April, which has been designated as a Special School Holiday.

It is followed immediately by Freedom Day on Tuesday, 27 April 2027.

Official South Africa School Term Dates for 2027

Term 1

13 January – 19 March 2027
10 weeks • 48 learner school days

Term 2

6 April – 25 June 2027
12 weeks • 56 actual learner school days

Term 3

20 July – 22 September 2027
10 weeks • 46 actual learner school days

Term 4

5 October – 8 December 2027
10 weeks • 47 learner school days
Term Learner dates Weeks Scheduled weekdays Term-time holidays Actual learner days
Term 1 13 January – 19 March 10 48 0 48
Term 2 6 April – 25 June 12 59 26 April Special School Holiday;
27 April Freedom Day;
16 June Youth Day 		56
Term 3 20 July – 22 September 10 47 9 August National Women’s Day 46
Term 4 5 October – 8 December 10 47 0 47
Total 4 terms 42 201 4 days 197

Educator Reporting and Administration Dates

Date Who attends? What happens?
11 January 2027 Educators Educators report.
12 January 2027 Educators Administration and preparation day.
13 January 2027 Educators and learners Term 1 starts for learners.
8 December 2027 Educators and learners Final learner school day.
9 December 2027 Educators Administration day.
10 December 2027 Educators Educators finish.
How to read the official bracketed dates

The Gazette’s bracketed opening and closing dates refer to educator administration days. Learners start on 13 January and finish on 8 December, while educators start earlier and finish later.

How Many School Days Are There in 2027?

  • 42 school weeks.
  • 201 scheduled learner weekdays before term-time holiday deductions.
  • 197 actual learner school days.
  • 4 educator administration days outside learner attendance.
  • 201 actual educator school and administration days.

South Africa School Holidays 2027

Break Starts Learners return Important dates
Term 1 break 20 March 6 April 21–22 March Human Rights Day period;
26 March Good Friday;
29 March Family Day
Winter break 26 June 20 July The school holiday continues through 19 July.
Spring break 23 September 5 October 24 September – Heritage Day
Year-end break 9 December for learners Use the final officially published 2028 school calendar 16 December;
25 December;
26 December;
27 December

Public Holidays Relevant to the 2027 School Calendar

Date Holiday School-calendar position
1 January New Year’s Day Summer holiday
21 March Human Rights Day Term 1 school break
22 March Observed public holiday Term 1 school break
26 March Good Friday Term 1 school break
29 March Family Day Term 1 school break
27 April Freedom Day Term 2 – public schools closed
1 May Workers’ Day Saturday – no additional weekday teaching loss
16 June Youth Day Term 2 – public schools closed
9 August National Women’s Day Term 3 – public schools closed
24 September Heritage Day Term 3 school break
16 December Day of Reconciliation Year-end school holiday
25 December Christmas Day Year-end school holiday
26 December Day of Goodwill Year-end school holiday
27 December Observed public holiday Year-end school holiday

Special School Holiday on 26 April 2027

Monday, 26 April 2027 is a Special School Holiday.

It is followed immediately by:

Tuesday, 27 April 2027 – Freedom Day.

Four consecutive days without public school

Saturday 24 April, Sunday 25 April, Monday 26 April Special School Holiday and Tuesday 27 April Freedom Day. Public schools resume on Wednesday, 28 April.

26 April is a school-specific holiday.

It should not be described as an additional general national public holiday.

Do All Nine Provinces Use the Same 2027 School Calendar?

Yes. The same official public-school term dates apply nationally.

They cover public schools in:

  • Eastern Cape
  • Free State
  • Gauteng
  • KwaZulu-Natal
  • Limpopo
  • Mpumalanga
  • Northern Cape
  • North West
  • Western Cape
No separate inland and coastal public-school calendar

The 2027 public-school calendar uses one national set of term dates.

Do Private Schools Follow These Dates?

Not necessarily.

The official national calendar applies to public schools.

Independent schools may use different:

  • Opening dates.
  • Closing dates.
  • Half-term holidays.
  • Teacher preparation days.
  • Examination periods.
  • Holiday lengths.
Check the independent school’s own calendar.

Do not book travel solely from the public-school calendar if your child attends an independent or private school.

2027 Planning Guide for Parents and Guardians

January

Educators report before learners. The first learner school day is 13 January 2027.

March and April

Term 1 closes on 19 March. The holiday period includes Human Rights Day, Good Friday and Family Day.

Term 2 begins on 6 April.

April Special Break

Families should note the four-day period from 24 to 27 April created by the weekend, Special School Holiday and Freedom Day.

Winter Holiday

Term 2 ends on 25 June. The winter holiday starts on 26 June and learners return on 20 July.

September Holiday

Term 3 ends on 22 September. Heritage Day on 24 September occurs during the spring school break.

December

Learners finish on 8 December. Educators continue with administration on 9 and 10 December.

School admission dates are separate from school term dates.

Provincial admissions can open months before the start of the 2027 academic year, so parents should check their provincial education department separately.

Grade 12 and Matric Examination Dates

The public-school calendar does not contain the individual 2027 National Senior Certificate examination paper dates.

The Department of Basic Education publishes the final NSC examination timetable separately.

Do not use estimated 2027 matric paper dates as official dates.

Learners should use the final examination timetable released by the Department of Basic Education.

Explore more South African calendars

Browse the Calendar category for school calendars, public holidays and other important dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do schools open in South Africa in 2027?

Public-school learners start on Wednesday, 13 January 2027. Educators report on Monday, 11 January.

When is Term 1 in 2027?

Term 1 runs from 13 January to 19 March 2027 for learners.

When is Term 2 in 2027?

Term 2 runs from 6 April to 25 June 2027.

When is Term 3 in 2027?

Term 3 runs from 20 July to 22 September 2027.

When is Term 4 in 2027?

Term 4 runs from 5 October to 8 December 2027 for learners.

How many learner school days are there in 2027?

The official calendar provides 197 actual learner school days.

Is 26 April 2027 a school holiday?

Yes. Monday, 26 April 2027 is officially designated as a Special School Holiday.

Is 27 April 2027 a public holiday?

Yes. Tuesday, 27 April 2027 is Freedom Day.

Is 22 March 2027 a public holiday?

Yes. Human Rights Day falls on Sunday, 21 March 2027, so Monday, 22 March is also a public holiday.

When is the winter school holiday in 2027?

The learner winter break runs from 26 June through 19 July, with Term 3 starting on 20 July.

When is the September school holiday in 2027?

Term 3 ends on 22 September and Term 4 begins on 5 October. The break therefore runs from 23 September through 4 October.

Do all nine provinces use the same 2027 school term dates?

Yes. The national public-school calendar applies to public schools across all nine provinces.

Are there separate inland and coastal calendars in 2027?

No. Public schools use one national set of term dates.

Do private schools have to follow this calendar?

No. Independent-school calendars can differ from the national public-school calendar.

Does the school calendar include the 2027 matric timetable?

No. The subject-by-subject National Senior Certificate examination timetable is published separately.

Official Sources and Contacts

DBE Call Centre: 0800 202 933
DBE Switchboard: 012 357 3000
Email: [email protected]