The Gauteng Department Education (GDE) has reduced the number of unplaced learners from 34 358 to 29 862.
According to the Department of Education, statistics reveal that 88.51 per cent of total applications were received and of the number placed, 134 680 were placed in Grade One and 115 629 in Grade Eight.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said: “Our officials are committed and work tirelessly to place these remaining 29 862 or 10.52 per cent of unplaced learners by November 30.
“It is important to remind the public that a total of 27 563 parents have not submitted or do not have documents. We will announce how they will be assisted in due course. We will not be able to accommodate those parents who didn’t apply until we place all outstanding learners.
“The department is administering the 2020 admission process under the new Regulations and Feeder Zones Policy,” Mabona said.
Mabona said parents can apply at any school but placement depends ultimately on available space and the capacity of the school.
He said the capacity of the school is a function of the size of the school and the number of current Grade One and eight learners who have been retained or did not pass to the next grades.
Furthermore, placement in terms of the revised regulations follows this order of priority:
• Applicants with home addresses closest to the school within the feeder zone.
• If the school still has space, applicants with siblings will be placed. If there is no space, siblings will be placed at a school with available space within the feeder zone.
• After criteria one and two are exhausted, applicants with work addresses within the feeder zone will be placed, if the school still has space. If not, the learners will be placed where there is space available.
• Still, subject to space availability, learners whose parents live within the 30km radius of the school will be placed.
• Finally, learners whose parents live beyond the 30km radius of the school will be placed, if the school has space.
A parent that does not prefer the offer of placement should lodge an objection with the district. Objection forms are available online at www.gdeadmissions.gov.za or at the district office.
Should the parent remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the objection, the parent may complete an appeal form available online at www.gdeadmissions.gov.za and email to Admissions.Hotline@gauteng.gov.za.
Parents are urged to follow this process to address concerns.
A parent that still has admission-related queries can contact the department through the following channels:
- Phone the call centre on 0800 000 789.
- Send an email to gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za.
- Visit the nearest district admission centre.
