Nearly 190 000 online applications done in first hour

In the first hour after online admissions for Grade 1 and 8 learners for 2020 had opened on Monday morning, nearly 190 000 successful applications had been done.

According to Gauteng Department of education the system had been handling up to 60 000 applications at a time.

Parents are advised to use Chrome for easier access to the system.

Applications will close on July 22.

“Following the postponement of the opening for a week, as requested by SGB associations and interested parties, Gauteng Department of Education made a concerted effort to address and resolve concerns raised, said Steve Mabona, department spokesperson.

“In the true spirit of inclusivity, consultation and good cooperative governance, a meeting was convened with FEDSAS where the functionality of the system was demonstrated, where open and transparent engagement transpired. Further, the department took a decision to avail the system for testing by stakeholders and interested parties to allay fears,” he said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Admissions is a three-phase process.

Phase 1: registration and application from May 20 to July 22 at midnight.

During this phase, parents can apply to a maximum of five schools using any of the five application options outlined in the amendments to the admissions regulations. After making an application, parents must submit required documents to the schools applied to within seven school days. Parents must sign the submission register at the school and request a receipt acknowledging submission of documents.

This will serve as important evidence to follow up on placement.

Phase 2: Placement of learners from August 31 to September 30.

Parents will receive offers of placement from schools based on admissions criteria and availability of space and resources. Offers must be accepted within seven working days. Failure to accept offers will result in the department placing the learners in schools within the feeder zones that cover the parent’s home address.

Phase 3: Admission to a school.

Admission to a school will only occur after the offer of placement is accepted and confirmed. Once offers are accepted and confirmed, schools will provide further communication.

Based on the admissions criteria in the amended admissions regulations, application options are ranked in the following order of priority:

1. Home address application option allows applicants to apply to schools within feeder zones that cover the parent’s home address. The learner will be placed at the school closest to the parent’s home address within the feeder zone. (Reference Number WA1)

2. Sibling application option allows applicants to apply to a school where the applicant learner’s sibling is currently in Grade 1 to Grade 6 or Grade 8 to Grade 11. The system allows for the sibling application as defined in the amended admissions regulations to remove cultural bias, accommodate diversity and ensure a fair opportunity for all learners. (Reference Number WA2).

3. Work address application option allows the applicant to apply to schools with feeder zones that cover the parent’s work address. (Reference Number WA3)

4. School within 30km radius. Parents can apply to schools within a 30km radius of their home address. (Reference Number WA4)

5. School beyond 30km radius. Parents can apply to schools beyond a 30km radius of their home address. (Reference Number WB)

6. School of focused learning. Parents may apply to any school of focused learning offering a specialised curriculum of their choice. Placement is informed by the outcome of admissions test (Reference Number WA5)

The department is satisfied that the following issues were clarified and agreed upon in the interest of strengthening the system:

The system is providing a list of all schools and distances to the parents’ home address with feeder zone maps covering the home address

Where the home address is not covered by a feeder zone of a school, for example, when a parent applies for Grade 1 where the feeder zones provide secondary schools only, the system will provide a list of the five primary schools closest to the parent’s address

The system is sensitive to primary and secondary school applications in line with the age of the applicant learner

The system is sensitive to single gender schools based on the gender of the applicant learner

The department has availed to parents a step-by-step user guide and a detailed video tutorial to clarify admissions processes. The tutorial is available on the department’s website, the online application landing page under getting started on the main menu; and on Twitter.

Parents will be assisted with applications at all ordinary public schools, district offices and head office. Identified community centres and public libraries have prepared walk-in centres to assist parents with applications from 8am to 4pm during school days. A list of walk-in centres with contact details and addresses is provided.

For queries, parents are advised to contact the department at the following telephone or email address:

Call Centre on (011) 355 0000;

Toll free number 0800 000 789; or

Email: Gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za