The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has released new policy amendments for public comment, proposing the permanent removal of the long-standing distinction between coastal and inland school calendars in South Africa.
The change would formally end the staggered school calendar system, under which inland schools traditionally opened a week earlier than coastal ones. The practice was originally introduced to accommodate travel schedules and allow teachers additional preparation time before the school year began.
Shift Toward a Unified School Calendar
According to the department, the distinction has become unnecessary, particularly after the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a single school calendar being implemented nationwide.
Although the DBE briefly attempted to reinstate the staggered system in 2023, it reverted to a unified start for all schools in 2024 and 2025. The newly gazetted policy now aims to make this single-calendar approach permanent.
“All possible steps must be taken to avoid a late start to the school year, that is, in the fourth week of January, as this pushes back all terms,” the department stated. “The focus is on ensuring there is no loss in the number of days allocated for schooling.”
Key Changes Outlined
Under the existing policy, inland provinces include Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West, while coastal provinces comprise the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and Western Cape.
The proposed amendment removes this distinction completely. Previously, inland schools opened during the second week of January and coastal schools during the third. Under the revised framework, all schools will open in the third week of January, following a standardised structure for terms and holidays.
The DBE said this change would help streamline the school year, better align with public holidays, and ensure optimal use of teaching time.
Public Participation and Future Planning
The department has invited public input on the proposed changes. Submissions can be sent via email to Mlambo.S@dbe.gov.za and Mkhize.ZM@dbe.gov.za.
Alongside the policy amendment, the DBE has also published the draft school calendar for 2028 for public comment. South Africa’s school calendars are usually set several years in advance. For example, the 2025 calendar was gazetted in 2022, while the 2026 and 2027 calendars were finalised earlier this year.
Part of Broader Education Reform
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the move forms part of a wider effort to improve the structure and predictability of the academic year, ensuring that learning time is maximised and disruptions are reduced.
If approved, the new policy will take effect ahead of the next school calendar cycle, marking the end of a decades-old divide between coastal and inland school timetables.
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