EDUCATION Minister Kader Asmal has announced that a new school calendar affecting all nine provinces, will come into effect next year. The move is an attempt to reduce deaths on the country’s roads during peak holiday seasons. The provinces have been divided into three groups to reduce traffic densities and improve national traffic flow during holiday seasons. The new term dates are: Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape: first term from January 18 to March 24; second term from April 3 to June 23; third term from July 17 to September 22; fourth term from October 2 to December 1. Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Northern Province and North West: first term from January 11 to March 24; second term from April 1 to June 23; third term from July 17 to September 22; fourth term from October 2 to December 1. Free State: first term from January 11 to March 23; second term from April 4 to June 23; third term from July 18 to September 21; fourth term from October 3 to December 1.