In most cases, South African independent schools offer leave benefits in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Annual leave, sick leave and maternity leave should comply with the conditions of the Act. Study and examination leave, as well as family responsibility leave are generally set out in the school’s conditions of service, as applicable to the employee’s post.
Leave conditions may vary for full-time and part-time staff, as well as Academic and Non-Academic staff and staff on fixed-term contracts. Some schools offer long leave or sabbatical leave, but this is not the case across all independent schools.
The ISASA employment contracts contain general guidelines on school leave.