The Department of Basic Education has once again been forced to debunk false reports circulating on social media about changes to the 2025 school calendar, specifically claims of an “extended September break” for learners.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has issued a firm dismissal of new fake reports claiming that the 2025 school calendar has been modified to provide students with an “extended September break.” These false claims are part of what has become a familiar pattern of education-related misinformation spreading through fake news websites and social media platforms.
The Latest False Claims
The fabricated reports suggested that the DBE was reviewing the 2025 school calendar “to better balance teaching days and public holidays,” allegedly resulting in an extended break period for learners in September. However, these claims contain several red flags typical of misinformation campaigns:
- Lack of official sources: The reports make no reference to official government statements or gazettes where such significant changes would be published
- Vague details: Beyond the headline claim, the posts provide minimal substantive information
- No logical basis: The timing and justification for such changes make little educational sense
The Reality of September 2025
The facts contradict these false claims entirely. According to the official 2025 school calendar published by the Department of Basic Education on 31 January 2023, there is no “September break” scheduled for 2025. The third term actually ends on 3 October 2025, with school holidays running from 4 October to 12 October. The fourth term then begins on 13 October.
The only public holiday in September is Heritage Day on Wednesday, 24 September. Any genuine “extended September break” would require either giving four extra days off that week or moving the entire third-term holiday forward by two weeks—both scenarios would necessitate a complete overhaul of the school calendar.
Why This Claim Makes No Sense
The suggestion of providing learners with “more downtime” is particularly puzzling given that the department already granted three extra school holidays between April and May 2025 to accommodate several public holidays, resulting in an additional week off for learners during a peak public holiday period.
This special holiday week was specifically designed around Freedom Day falling on Monday, 28 April 2025, and Worker’s Day on Thursday, 1 May 2025, with the department declaring Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday as special school holidays to create a full week break.
Official Response
The Department of Basic Education provided a clear statement to BusinessTech confirming that no changes to the 2025 calendar have been made: “We can confirm that there are no changes to the 2025 schooling calendar. Any announcement not made on the official social media accounts of the department should be viewed as fake news by the public.”
The Broader Pattern of Education Misinformation
This latest false report follows a troubling pattern of education-related misinformation in South Africa. Earlier this year, the DBE was forced to dismiss rumors about the introduction of Grade 13 to the South African schooling system, with officials warning: “Don’t fall victim to fake news. With misinformation and disinformation at an all-time high, it’s important to be able to tell the difference between legitimate sources of information and those who peddle lies to increase engagement on their pages.”
How to Verify Education Information
Parents, educators, and students should always verify education-related news through official channels:
- Official DBE website: www.education.gov.za
- Verified DBE social media accounts: @DBE_SA on Twitter/X
- Government gazette publications: Available on gov.za
- Provincial education department websites
The Impact of Education Misinformation
Research shows that over 90% of teachers in South Africa have observed instances of learners sharing misinformation and rumors. This type of false information can cause unnecessary stress for families trying to plan around school schedules and undermines confidence in official education communications.
Media Monitoring Africa has highlighted that the increase in misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms poses significant threats, noting that “with the dramatic increase in misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms and the lack of strong digital and media literacy skills among the public, it becomes more important than ever before for traditional media to not only be credible but also well equipped to deliver their mandate of informing and educating.”
Conclusion
The 2025 school calendar remains unchanged, with no extended September break planned. As always, parents and educators should rely on official Department of Basic Education communications for accurate information about school schedules and policy changes.
The persistence of these fake news campaigns highlights the critical need for improved media literacy education and the importance of verifying information through official channels before sharing it on social media platforms.
For official updates on the 2025 school calendar and education policies, visit the Department of Basic Education website at www.education.gov.za or follow their verified social media accounts.