When Will Schools Reopen in 2023?

 Learners and teachers around South Africa are presently enjoying their end-of-year vacations. These vacations, though, eventually come to an end. Teachers are projected to return to the classroom in 2023 at the following times.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced the reopening of schools in 2023. It is crucial to remember, however, that there is no set date for children and instructors in South Africa to return to school

The DBE now operates on a staggered school calendar. This implies that students and instructors will return to school on various days in different provinces.

Schools in the interior provinces will reopen on January 9, 2023, with students returning to the classroom on January 11, 2023. The Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the North West are among the inland provinces.

Schools in coastal provinces will open a week after schools in inland areas on January 16, 2023, with students returning on January 18, 2023. The Eastern Cape is one of the coastal provinces.

2023 School Term Dates For Inland Schools. 

Duration	No. of week	No. of days	No. of public holidays	Actual no. of school days
(9) 11 January - 24 March	11	53(55)	1+1	51(53)
12 April - 23 June	11	53	3+1	49
18 July - 29 September	11	54	2	52
10 October - 13 December (15) December	10	47(49)	0	47(49)
Total	43	207(211)	6+2	199(203)

 

2023 School Term Dates For Coastal Schools. 

Duration	No. of week	No. of days	No. of public holidays	Actual no. of school days
(16) 18 January -  31 March	11	53(55)	1+1	51(53)
12 April - 23 June	11	53	3+1	49
18 July - 29 September	11	54	2	52
10 October - 13 December (15) December	10	47(49)	0	47(49)
Total	43	207(211)	6+2	199(203)

 

Teachers will return to school for administrative reasons on the days indicated in brackets.

In South Africa, students are not forced to attend school during public holidays. Here is a list of South African public holidays when students and teachers are not expected to attend school.

• 01 January: New Year’s Day
• 02 January: Public Holiday
• 20 March: Special School Holiday
• 21 March: Human Rights Day
• 7 April: Good Friday
• 10 April: Family Day
• 27 April: Freedom Day
• 28 April: Special School Holiday
• 01 May: Workers’ Day
• 16 June: Youth Day
• 9 August: National Women’s Day
• 24 September: Heritage Day
• 25 September: Public Holiday
• 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
• 25 December: Christmas Day
• 26 December: Day of Goodwill

It should be noted that some of these public holidays coincide with school holidays.

For both inland and coastal schools, the school year will finish on December 13, 2023. Learners will have attended school for 199 days by the conclusion of the school year.