The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) says its facilities are ready for the reopening of schools on January 11.
The department confirmed that 290 751 Grade One and Eight learners, whose parents applied using the GDE Online Admissions System, have been successfully placed. Work is underway to find space for the unplaced learners.
The GDE’s annual School Readiness Plan, which outlines progress and plans to ensure that teaching and learning start on the first day of the academic year, showed that more than 230 of the 139 464 Grade One applicants remained unplaced by Tuesday morning. Some 1 158 remain unplaced. This means 1 394 Grade One and Eight learners are yet to be assured of a desk in a classroom this year.
Details of unplaced applicants
Ekurhuleni North District: 236 Grade One applicants remain unplaced in Olifantsfontein. The GDE said that the local school will receive three additional mobile units to increase the school’s capacity. More mobile units will be placed on the grounds of a local church to accommodate the remaining unplaced Grade One applicants.
Some 501 Grade Eight applicants are unplaced in the Kempton Park area. The schools in question will confirm the available spaces for further placement once the placed applicants report to schools on day one. The schools will be asked to use specialist rooms to accommodate the learners.
Tshwane West District: Some 223 Grade Eight applicants around Akasia/Theresa Park remain unplaced. The GDE is building a satellite high school to accommodate the remaining unplaced applicants.
Johannesburg West District: A total of 434 Grade Eight applicants remain unplaced in Roodepoort. The GDE is negotiating to occupy facilities used by Robinhood College in Maraisburg. Ten classrooms not in use will be cleaned and get minor renovations before the end of this month.
Late applications
Some 8 375 Grade One and Eight applications were received during the late application period, which opened on December 20. Applicants who applied during this period were auto-placed at available schools.
Late applications will close on January 31, and catch-up programmes will be implemented at affected schools.
The GDE said that applicants who submitted applications without proof of residence will be treated as late applications and auto-placed at schools with available space.
Late applicants cannot be transferred to schools of their choice.
Placement interventions
The department procured 419 mobile units to address the matter of unplaced applications across the province. The procurement of self-build classrooms is also used to increase placement capacity.
Schools are encouraged to be part of the self-build programme.
In high-pressure areas, the GDE is establishing satellite schools. There is a concerted effort to work with the sister departments to acquire more land to increase the number of schools in these areas.
Appeals
The department has received 4801 appeals regarding objections to placements offered to applicants. The >GDE said it is working tirelessly to finalise these appeals.
Contact details
For more information or assistance, call the department on 0800 000 789.
WhatsApp: 060 891 0361.
Email: admissions.hotline@gauteng.gov.za or gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za
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