Changes for private school calendars in South Africa for 2025

The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa’s (ISASA) school calendar guidelines show that students will start term earlier in 2025, and private schools will also have slightly fewer school days than their public counterparts.

ISASA is a voluntary association representing independent (or private) schools in Southern Africa, primarily South Africa.

ISASA has more than 870 school members in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zambia. Over 200,000 learners attend ISASA-affiliated schools.

It is one of the largest and oldest independent school associations, with member schools ranging from pre-primary to post-matriculation levels, covering a wide array of educational philosophies and religious affiliations.

In South Africa, independent schools are privately funded and managed, relying on tuition fees, while public schools are government-funded and sometimes free or low-cost.

Independent schools have autonomy over curricula, offering specialised programs like the International Baccalaureate.

They also generally feature smaller class sizes and more resources. In contrast, public schools follow the national curriculum with larger class sizes.

Independent schools are more selective and often charge high fees, whereas public schools are accessible to all based on geographic zones.

The choice between them depends on educational preferences, budget, and location.

According to the ISASA school calendar guidelines, all independent schools will start on 15 January 2025 and conclude on 3 December.

This is two days earlier than in 2024, when schools started on 17 January.

Some private schools—such as those in Kwa-Zulu Natal—follow a four-term system similar to that of public schools.

These schools will have 184 school days in 2025, two fewer than the 186 pencilled in for 2024.

Interestingly, the majority of private schools that will follow the three-term system will have 181 school days, which is even fewer days than the four-term private schools.

However, this remains the same as those pencilled in for this year, which remains at 181.

Public schools will also commence on 15 January but the year will conclude on 12 December in 2025.

In 2025, public schools will also have more school days than independent schools, with 200 school days.

However, ISASA added that there are no universal term dates or calendars that apply to all independent schools in South Africa.

Many independent schools follow the public school calendar, while others follow an association calendar. Some independent schools follow their own specific calendars.

The calendar committee of the ISASA Central Region (Gauteng, Free State, North West and Northern Cape) publishes a Central Region Calendar as a guideline for member schools in the region.

ISASA member schools in the Central Region are not required to follow this calendar, although most do.

Read: Big shake-up for school calendars in South Africa in 2025 – with a whole week ‘written off’