MEC announces 2024 online admissions commencement process
Make sure you read and follow the instructions carefully when applying.
The Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, announced the process for the 2024 Online Admissions for Grades One and Eight on May 21.
The application period will open at 08:00 on June 15 and close at midnight on July 14.
He said changes and improvements made to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) Online Admissions Application System were informed by feedback from the Annual Stakeholder Review of the system conducted from February 7 to March 10.
“Stakeholders who annually participate in the review process include the parents of applicant learners, SGBs, school administrators, school principals, district officials and provincial call centre agents,” he said.
The 2024 online admissions will follow a single application process. This means parents and guardians applying for Grade One and Eight will all do so at the same time and, during the placement process, offers will be issued at the same time.
How to apply
To apply, parents and guardians must log in to www.gdeadmissions.gov.za, which will go live on June 15. During the application period, applicants must create login credentials (username, password) to access the Online Admissions System.
Once applicants have access to the system, they must correctly start the registration process.
Applicants must provide a correct cellphone number when registering to receive SMSes and updates regarding their applications. Each step of the process will be confirmed via SMS for security and verification purposes.
Applicants are discouraged from using internet cafés to avoid errors. Instead, they can go to any school or district office or use one of the 80 decentralised walk-in centres for assistance.
Note: the department does not charge a fee when helping parents to submit applications.
Five-step application process
When applying for Grade One and/or Eight, parents must complete a five-step process to submit a complete application:
Step 1: Register parent/guardian details.
Step 2: Register home address details.
Step 3: Register learner details.
Step 4: Apply to a maximum of five schools.
Step 5: Upload documents to the system or submit documents at schools (within seven school days of applying).
Feeder zone
Chiloane said parents were encouraged to use the home address in the school feeder zone application option to see schools with feeder zones that cover the parent’s home address.
“To increase the chances of placement closer to the parent’s home address, parents should select schools with feeder zones that cover their home address. Parents are encouraged to apply to at least three schools and a maximum of five for each learner. Parents must remember to read and accept the terms and conditions,” he said.
Documents needed when applying are the parent and child’s ID or passport, refugee permit, asylum seeker permit, permanent residence permit, study permit, SA birth certificate, proof of home address, proof of work address, latest Grade Seven school report (Grade Eight applicants only) and clinic card/immunisation report (Grade One applicants only).
Parents must remember that Grade R learners are not automatically accepted in Grade One at the school where they are currently enrolled in Grade R. This means all learners who are five and turn six by June 30, 2024, and are currently enrolled in Grade R in a school or ECD site, as well as learners not in any type of school, must apply on the system for admission.
Capacity challenge
SMSes with placement offers will be sent to parents from September 4. The placement period will continue until the last learner is placed.
“Officials incorporated inputs from our stakeholders on how to improve the system. Indeed, we are hopeful these implemented enhancements will be helpful to applicants. Accordingly, we reiterate that capacity remains our challenge in Gauteng and a factor that applicants must always remember when applying. We are working tirelessly to resolve the capacity challenge,” he said.
For more information, call 0800 000 789, WhatsApp 060 891 0361, email admissions.hotline@gauteng.gov.za or gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za
