Grades 1 and 8 school registration opens on 22 July, here is what you need to know.

Registration for Grades 1 and 8 learners opens on July 22 and parents are encouraged to register early to secure a place in a Gauteng public school.

The Gauteng Department of Education website states that ‘Grade R learners will not automatically be accepted to Grade 1 without application, even if they apply to the schools where they are currently enrolled in’.

Roosevelt High School deputy principal Henk Ferreira said, “Parents must register on the online portal and apply for at least three schools identified in their feeder areas.”

If a learner is not accepted into their school of choice, they will usually be placed at their second or third choices. A maximum of five schools can be applied to.

Acceptance to a preferred school is determined by several factors including where a pupil lives in relation to a school within their feeder zone, if there is a sibling at a school, which primary school they attended, where the parents work and other factors.

Roosevelt High receives over 2 000 applications, but only have space for 400, leaving many disappointed as they are a high-performance school.

Ferreira said, “Once the application has been received, parents will receive an SMS and PIN prompting them to upload documentation into the system which must be done within seven days after applying. Failing to do this may influence the acceptance to their school of choice as these are verified by the school who will then offer a place to the learner.”

Ward 88 councillor Nicolene Jonker said, “Parents who apply late will probably not be placed at their school of choice.”

Applications can be submitted until the closing date of August 19, 2022.

The Gauteng Department of Education’s website says placement offers will be sent to the cellphone number the parent or guardian registered with from October 3 to November 30, 2022.

Roosevelt and Northcliff high schools have walk-in centres where they can assist any parents with the online application process should they have any issues or problems with using the online portal.

The online portal for admissions can be found at www.gdeadmissions.gov.za. Questions can be emailed to gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za or you can call them on 0800 000 789 or 011 355 0000.

The Gauteng Department of Education will be hosting a press conference on July 21, following which an updated article will be published with more information.

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