Students Return to Classrooms as Term 4 Begins

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has officially announced that learners will resume classes for the fourth and final term on Monday, 13 October. This return follows a week-long break for the October holidays, marking the start of the academic year’s home stretch. The upcoming term is notably the shortest of the year, spanning just 43 days, and is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, 10 December.

Final Push for Matriculants

For Grade 12 learners, Term 4 represents the culmination of their school journey. The critical National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric examinations are set to begin on Tuesday, 21 October. The examination period will run for several weeks, officially concluding on Thursday, 27 November. This final academic push is a pivotal moment for all matriculants across the country.

2025 School Calendar Overview

The 2025 academic year is structured across four distinct terms, totaling 200 school days. The Department of Basic Education has maintained a unified calendar for all provinces, ensuring consistency nationwide. The term breakdown is as follows:

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

Term 1 ran from 15 January to 28 March.
Term 2 was from 8 April to 27 June.
Term 3 commenced on 22 July and ended on 3 October.
Term 4 begins on 13 October and ends on 10 December.

In terms of length, Terms 1 and 2 each consisted of 52 days. Term 3 was the longest at 53 days, while the upcoming Term 4 is confirmed as the shortest. This streamlined calendar, identical for all provinces, continues the approach implemented in 2024.