Teaching and learning must be the underpinning imperative in the determination of the school calendar. Stakeholders’ interests may not carry more weight than the need to deliver on teaching and learning in the best interest of the learners at all schools.

Seeing that the timing of school holidays could have an effect on traffic flow, which, in turn, has potential road safety implications, the Department should plan the school calendar in a way that will assist in minimising traffic flow relating to school holidays.

The school holiday schedule of each cluster must be kept reasonably constant to make short- to medium-term planning easier – not only for those directly involved in education, but also for those indirectly involved, such as the tourism industry, members of the public, the private sector, the road traffic authorities, parents and learners.

The calendar for a particular year must be available at least 18 months in advance.

The public must, by means of notices in the Government Gazette, Departmental website and Social media platforms, be invited to submit comments on the calendar that is being planned and should be given at least one month to submit comments.