2026 School Opening and Closing Dates Calender in Zimbabwe
Time moves very fast indeed but for some reason it seems as if opening dates come sooner than closing dates. The dates in this article are for ECD, Primary, Secondary and High schools which follow the national school calender set by the ministry of Education.
Frequently Asked Questions about the 2026 School Calender in Zimbabwe
Schools are opening on the 13th of January 2026 and closing on the 1st of April 2026. The term is 2 months and 17 days long (8 days shorter than 2025 term 1).
Schools are expected to open on the 12th of May 2026 and closing on the 6th of August 2026. The term is 2 month 26 days long (the same length as term 2 of 2025).
Schools are expected to open on the 8th of September 2026 and close on the 8th of December 2026. The term is 3 months long (5 days longer than term 3 of 2025).
2026 School Opening and Closing Dates Calender in Zimbabwe
| Period | Start Date (2026) | End Date (2026) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 13 January | 1 April | 79 days |
| Term 2 | 12 May | 6 August | 87 days |
| Term 3 | 8 September | 8 December | 92 days |
| April Holiday | 2 April | 11 May | 40 days |
| August Holiday | 7 August | 7 September | 32 days |
| December Holiday | 9 December | TBA (January 2027) | TBA |
About the 2026 school calender in Zimbabwe
- Schools will mostly be opening on Mondays and Tuesdays and closing on Wednesdays and Thursdays. (Varying between boarding and day schools)
- Each term is about 86 days long, while holidays are about 36 days long.
- Some private schools generally follow similar opening and closing dates to government schools, with only small variations depending on the institution.
Looking for past year school opening and closing dates?
You can download pdf tables containing information on school calendars for the past years:
