Education department urges parents to respond for school placements
The Gauteng Department of Education (DOE) appeals to the more than 70 000 parents who have not yet responded to offers of placement to respond immediately.
“We request parents to accept the offers of placement given, because if they do not, they stand to lose that space,” said Gauteng Department of Education’s Acting Head of Communications, Oupa Bodibe.
According to a statement release by the press, the DOE received a total of 285 834 applications by the closing date June 12, 2017.
Of these, 157 369 are for Grade One pupils and 128 465 are for Grade Eight pupils.
Since the placement period started on July 24, 117 081 learners have been placed – 65 595 in Grade One and 51 486 in Grade Eight.
The placement of learners will close on October 20.
“The lack of response is causing serious delays on the system,” said Bodibe.
“The Department has sent SMS notifications to these parents to remind them to respond to the offers of placement.”
Bodibe also reassured parents that districts are currently in the process of placing learners who were not placed by schools.
“All parents who have not yet submitted the required documents to the relevant school will be advised on a date to submit,” Bodibe said.
“The department will determine when to open the online application system for late applications after placement of applicants who applied on or before June 12 has been concluded.”
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi thanked co-operative parents.
“The early processing of admissions means that learning and teaching can commence on the first day of the 2018 academic calendar,” he said.
Parents experiencing challenges can contact the district office using the following:
•Call centre number – 0800 000 789
•Email: gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za
•Social media: Twitter and Instagram – @EducationGP and Gauteng Department of Education on Facebook
•Visit their nearest District Office for assistance with further queries.
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