Pupils and parents across the country have been waiting in anticipation to see what the new amended school calendar will look like. It was released by the Department of Basic Education on Saturday [August 1], and provides pupils with their school calendar for the rest of 2020.
“The review of the school calendar came after a Cabinet decision that schools should break for four weeks. In his address to the nation a week ago President Cyril Ramaphosa said that schools would close for four weeks and reopen on August 24, 2020,” the Department said via a statement. “The Department considered the impact of the decision on the current calendar. The policy process to amend the school calendar commenced taking into account the urgency of the matter as necessitated by the prevalent COVID-19 environment.”
The consultation process has been concluded with all stakeholders and the Council of Education Ministers approved the revised school calendar. It is the second time this year that the school calendar has been revised to accommodate the changes that have been brought by the impact of the coronavirus.
In terms of the new version of the calendar, schools will resume on August 24. There are 163 actual school days for teachers and 156 for learners.
The school year will be completed on December 15 for Grade R-11, and that it is not carried over to the first quarter of 2021.
“A break in school will be needed to separate the third and fourth terms. As a result, there will be a one week break in October from 26 to 30. The teaching, learning and assessment for 2020 academic year must be concluded by 15 December 2020 for Grade R-11,” the Department said.
The 2020 Grade 12 examinations will be completed by December 15, and the marking will conclude on January 22. Results will be released on February 23, 2021.
The new school year will commence on January 25, 2021, for teachers and learners a few days later.
“The calendar will be gazetted and published early next week. The Minister will issue Directions for the basic education sector this coming week. The Directions will provide guidance on various matters affecting the basic education sector,” the Department concluded.
The school calendar can be accessed here: Amended School Calender 2020_A3
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