Applications for school admissions and learner registrations for the year 2025 in the Free State are now open, with a deadline set for 30th August.
According to the Free State Department of Education, application forms for learner registration and admission are now obtainable at respective public schools and must be returned by 30th August 2024.
The department emphasized the importance of parents securing application forms promptly for children starting high school or changing schools to ensure timely registration and admission.
Encouraging parents and guardians to apply and register on time, the department stated it would facilitate smooth planning for the 2025 academic year, thereby optimising teaching time and academic performance.
It was advised that parents apply to schools in close proximity to their homes or workplaces. Requirements for school admission applications include a copy of the birth certificate, affidavits, sworn statements, proof of parent's identity and citizenship, child immunization card, and the most recent school report if transferring from another institution.
Upon application, schools are expected to provide applicants with an application status within a week of the deadline. In cases of unsuccessful applications, parents have the right to know the reason for rejection and to appeal.
The 2025 school calendar will run from 15th January to 10th December, comprising 199 school days. Unlike previous years, all schools across the country will begin the first term on the same date (15th January 2025) and conclude it 52 school days later (28th March 2025). Term dates are as follows:
- Term 1: 15 January - 28 March
- Term 2: 8 April – 27 June
- Term 3: 22 July – 3 October
- Term 4: 13 October – 10 December
Both inland and coastal schools will end the 2025 school year on 10 December.
