THE GAUTENG Department of Education is once again calling on parents to apply online for Grades One and Eight as the deadline of June 12 is fast approaching.
The department would like to remind parents or guardians who have not yet applied that the system will be shut down at midnight on June 12. Further, parents who have applied are reminded to submit the required documents at schools urgently.
As of May 30, a total of 229 828 applications had been processed since the start of the online applications on May 2. This translates into 125 547 applications for Grade One and 104 281 for Grade Eight.
Most of these were self-applications by parents who utilised the online system.
About 45 000 parents utilised the 81 walk-in admission centres for help with applying on online.
The department is excited by the overwhelming response by parents/guardians who have already applied and thank them for their cooperation.
There are 11 schools where demand is higher than available space. These schools have recorded between 1 000 and 1 500 applications for a single grade. They are:
- Ekurhuleni (Benoni High School, Boksburg High School and Alberton High School
- Tshwane (Pretoria High School for Girls, Laerskool Akasia, Hoërskool Akasia and Hoërskool Gerrit Maritz)
- Johannesburg (Mondeor High School, Sir John Adamson High School, Hoërskool President and Northcliff High School).
There are 391 schools with less than 100 applications, 249 schools with less than 50 applications, 204 schools with less than 25 applications and 58 schools with less than 10 applications.
Similar to what happened last year, many parents in townships either waited for the late application period or flooded GDE offices in January to apply for their children.
The department appeals to parents not to delay and to try by all means to apply before June 12.
Remember to the website: www.gdeadmissions.gov.za
The placement process will start from July 24. Parents should note that availability of space is the key determinant ultimately, of how many children can be placed in a school. Placement will be conducted on a first-come, first-serve basis, depending on space availability.
Schools will start placing parents on waiting list A, followed by parents on waiting list B. Being on waiting list A is, however, no guarantee that a learner will be placed.
During the placement period, principals will receive the approved and signed waiting lists from district directors to process offers of placements. Schools will send offers of placement to parents from July 24 to August 10.
Parents are to confirm offers of placement within seven working days of receiving the offer. Parents not confirming acceptance and/or rejecting offers will forfeit the offer to the next parent. Districts will finalise placement of learners not placed in schools from August 11 to September 20.
The Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, said, “Unfortunately parents or guardians, who will be seeking placements of learners at our schools in January 2018, will have to settle for any offer available from the department without an opportunity to choose a school.”
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