Online applications for admission at Gauteng public schools for the 2022 academic year will open on August 10.
The process will be conducted in two phases, which are expected to be completed in November.
“This year, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has introduced new changes aimed at making the process easier and more manageable for parents, guardians, and public schools in Gauteng,” said Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC for Education.
“The first phase is for Grade Seven learners currently in public primary schools applying for Grade Eight and the second phase for Grade One and Eight learners not in Grade Seven in public schools,” said Lesufi.
The first phase will open on August 10 at 08:00 and close on September 3 at midnight.
The second phase will commence on September 13 at 08:00 and close on October 8 at midnight
The placement of phase 1 will happen between October 15 and November 30 while phase 2 will be between November 15 and November 30.
To ensure access to applicants who are unable to apply from the comfort of their homes and or offices, the department has identified 47 decentralised walk-in centres in different areas where applicants will be safely assisted.
In addition, some District Offices and the Head Office will serve as walk-in centres. This information will be made available to the public via the GDE website and social media platforms.
The following guidelines are important:
• Before parents or guardians apply, they must provide accurate parent and learner details to schools where their children are currently in Grade Seven.
• From August 2 to 6, primary schools will verify and update parents or guardians’ details including the cellphone number, ID number and home address.
• It is important that parents provide one reliable cellphone number so that they can receive important SMS notifications regarding the application process. This process is very important because, from August 10, an SMS notification with a link will be sent to parents to complete the five-step application process.
• The parent/guardian will be required to verify the cellphone number on the system before starting the five-step application process, which consists of verification of parent or guardian details, home address details, learner details, application to a maximum of five schools and uploading documents to a system or submitting documents at schools,
• In phase two, parents and guardians will also complete the five-step application process without prior verification of details. Parents will also need to upload or submit certified copies of supporting documents to schools they applied to within seven days.
• The documents required for Grade One and Eight applications are a parent and child ID or passport, refugee permit, asylum seeker permit, permanent residence permit, study permit, South African birth certificate, proof of home address, proof of work address and latest school report and clinic card/vaccination report (Grade One only);
• If a parent uses a cellphone number that differs from the one provided to the school the system will prompt the parent to contact the school to correct the number.
• Every step of the application process will be confirmed via SMS for security and verification purposes.
• Parents who apply to Schools of Specialisation must ensure that they contact the school to arrange for the auditions or admission tests.
“When a parent or guardian applies to a school for their child, it is critical to remember that the following criteria are considered in order of priority of the following: home address within the school’s feeder zone, sibling and or previous schools, work address within school’s feeder zone and home address, which is within 30km radius,” said Lesufi.
“Parents will receive an SMS notifying them about the outcome of their application between October 15 and November 30. The parent must accept an offer to confirm placement,” he said.
