The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has thanked parents who have put in timeous applications for their children to enter primary or high school in the 2017 academic year, but would simultaneously like to urge those who have not yet applied to do so online or at schools before the end of November 2016.
On Wednesday, 14 September, the GDE provided the public with feedback on the 2017 online pupil applications and placements. The online application platform for the 2017 academic year was launched by the GDE on 1 April 2016, and concluded on 1 June 2016. It targeted Grades 1 and 8. During this period,
228 180 parents applied online. Of these, 118 534 applied for Grade 1, 91 221 applied for Grade 8 and 18 425 were for other grades.
The placement period commenced on 24 June 2016 and closed on 7 September 2016. As of 7 September, 104 266 pupils had been placed (64 227 of them in Grade 1 and 40 039 in Grade 8). This means that 123 914 pupils have not been placed. These unplaced applicants will be placed by 30 September 2016.
“We strongly encourage parents to confirm offers as soon as they receive SMSes from schools. This will assist in accelerating the placement process,” said Oageng Pitoro, the GDE spokesperson.
Parents who are not content with the offers of placement provided may object to the District Directors by completing an Objection Form (Annexure D) obtainable from the school or District Office. Parents who remain dissatisfied are advised to complete an Appeal Form (Annexure E) and submit it for consideration by the MEC.
The GDE received a total of 64 750 applications after the closing date of 1 June, of which 35 537 (17,6 per cent) were for Grade 1 placements and 29 213 (18,9 percent) for Grade 8 spots.
Pitoro continued, saying, “The late applicants will only be placed after all the applicants who applied during the application period are placed. We have noted a low response rate in some areas, especially in townships such as Daveyton/ Etwatwa, Sebokeng, Soweto and Hammanskraal. Against this background, late applications will be accepted until end of November. During September, we will accelerate Admissions Advocacy using different platforms.”
• The Department will conduct roadshows in the four regions to assist and mediate placement for learners that have not been placed so far.
• Districts will enhance localised admissions advocacy to ensure that parents that have not yet applied are assisted with applications.
• Decentralised Regional Admissions “Open Day” roadshows will be facilitated to ensure that parents with no access to the internet are assisted in confirming acceptance online. This will also assist parents who have queries regarding admissions.
• Principals of all primary schools will receive messages to remind parents with children in Grade R and Grade 7 who have not yet applied for Grade 1 and 8 to make application. Parents should note that having a child in Grade R does not mean automatic admission into Grade 1.
There will be no applications in January 2017.
The Department is in the process of reviewing the feeder zones as per the Constitutional Court ruling. Once the process is finalised, the Admissions Online Application will be aligned accordingly. The process will only affect 2018 admissions.
“We would like to thank all parents who applied on time. To those learners who are still to be placed, we would like to apologise for the delay, but confirm that we will expedite their placement. Those that have not yet applied should do so online or at schools until end of November 2016.
We have learnt valuable lessons through this process and we will make an announcement at a later stage on the future of the online application system,” Pitoro added.
In terms of readiness for 2017, 83 per cent of schools have already placed Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) orders, with the anticipated delivery date being the end of October 2016. Orders for the remaining 17 per cent of schools must be in by the end of September 2016. Department of Basic Education workbooks will be delivered to all Public Ordinary Schools by end of October 2016.
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