Learners in the Western Cape can look forward to another school holiday next week, as all public and special schools across the country will be closed from 28 April to 2 May 2025. Schools will reopen on Monday, 5 May.

This additional week-long closure comes as part of the national school calendar set out by the Department of Basic Education.

Bronagh Hammond of the Western Cape Education Department reminded learners and their caregivers of the holiday break on Tuesday.

“We would like to remind all our parents of learners that attend public ordinary and special schools in the province that, in terms of the national calendar released by the Department of Basic Education last year, all public schools will be closed during the week of 28 April 2025 to 2 May 2025.”

Hammond further advised that some independent schools in the province may not follow the same timetable.

 “Parents of learners in independent schools will need to refer to their school timetables and calendars as communicated by their school, as we are aware that some independent schools will not close during this period.”

The 2025 school calendar features 27 school holidays, offering slightly more rest days than the 25 in 2024, though fewer than the 32 in 2023 and 33 in 2022.

Learners only had one day off in the first term for Human Rights Day on 21 March. Meanwhile, the upcoming holiday is the second break learners are getting since the start of the second term on 8 April, covering the upcoming holiday and the recent Easter long weekend.

They will get a third holiday in this term, on 16 June for Youth Day, before the term concludes on 27 June.

Looking ahead, the third and fourth terms will run from 22 July to 3 October, and 13 October to 10 December, respectively. Term 3 will include public holidays such as National Women’s Day on 9 August and Heritage Day on 24 September.