Western Cape: late school admissions applications close at midnight

The Department of Education in the Western Cape has officially announced that the deadline for late admission applications for the upcoming 2023/2024 school year will be at 11:59pm on Thursday, 25 May 2023.

The online application process, which began on 13 March 2023, at 00:01 and concluded on 14 April 2023, at 23:59, was made available to parents and caregivers. The department is urging all parents, particularly those with children entering Grade 1 and Grade 8 next year, to promptly gather and certify the necessary documentation required for the application process.

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Parents were reminded that to complete the application, they would need the last official school report card, an identity document, a birth certificate, or a passport of the pupil.

Recognising that some parents may lack access to the internet or require assistance with the online application, the department established pop-up admission sites at shopping malls, schools, and other facilities across the province’s eight education districts.

“Information about these 114 sites has been disseminated through various channels, including the distribution of pamphlets to Grade 7 learners, registered early childhood development (ECD) centres, and selected communities. Detailed information about the sites can also be found on the department’s website,” spokesperson Kerry Mauchline said.

28 000 late applications

The department also noted that each year thousands of parents fail to apply during the designated application period. “For the 2023 school year, nearly 28 000 late applications for Grade 1 and 8 were received, significantly impacting planning processes and the ability to place students in a timely manner,” Mauchline said.

ALSO READ: Over 260 000 Grade 1 and 8 pupils placed in Gauteng schools

As such, parents of minor children were urged to prepare for their child’s school admission early. She reminded parents that the admissions process in the Western Cape starts in the previous school year so that the department can obtain the necessary data to plan for growth in the demand for placement in certain areas.

“This is why our campaign message for this year is ‘Don’t Wait!’. We need to work together to ensure that we receive on-time applications for as many of the Grade 1 and 8 learners needing placement next year as possible,” she concluded.