By Monday, the Gauteng Department of Education had received 269 676 applications; 147 779 for Grade 1 and 121 897 for Grade 8 – 59 921 more than for the same period last year.
The capacity as of 12 June was 342 610. The online admissions for Grade 1 and 8 opened on 2 May and closed at midnight on 12 June.
Oupa Bodibe, Gauteng Department of Education’s Acting Head of Communication said in a statement, “The department commends parents for heeding the call to apply online and on time and the significant increase in the number of applications during the last week of the application period is notable. Bulk SMSes were forwarded to all parents who had not yet applied for Grade 1 and/ or Grade 8 for the 2018 learner intake.
“As part of the celebrations to commemorate Youth Month, an Admissions Exhibition has been set up at NASREC Exhibition Centre. Parents of learners who have not yet applied for 2018 admissions are invited to make their applications at the Centre.
“The Department continues to monitor schools with low application numbers as perceptions vary – from poor quality of education, to schools situated in rural/ township or distant areas where the uptake among parents is slow.”
Statistics breakdown:
• The largest number of applications were made in the Johannesburg region, where 102 419 applications were made to schools
• The 2nd largest number of applications was observed in the Ekurhuleni region, where 79 779 applications were made
• Tshwane has received the 3rd largest number of applications – a total of 77 597
• Sediwes reflects the smallest number of applications at 43 112 applications
• The number of schools with less than 50 applications has consistently decreased every week, from 636 on 22 May 2017 to 402 schools on 9 July 2017
• The 11 schools with more than 1 200 applications have steadily remained the Top Pressure Schools for the past three weeks
• Boksburg High School has emerged to share the Top Spot with Hoërskool Akasia as the two most popular schools in the province, having received 1 525 applications each
• Ten of the 11 top high-pressure schools are secondary schools. Laerskool Akasia, with 1 308 applications, is the only primary school with more than 1 200 applications
• The six districts, EN, ES, JC, JN, TS, and TW, will be mitigating the challenge of placing the overflow of learners by:
– Transferring the learners to schools with low application numbers
– Arranging for scholar transportation for learners who cannot find placement close to their homes
– Construction of schools is in progress in the high pressure areas
• Sunward Park High School (ES) remains the most preferred ICT school, reflecting the highest number of applications at 1 050, followed by Dalpark High School (GE) with 753 and Ponelopele Oracle Secondary School (JE) with 671 applications
• The ICT school with the lowest number of applications is Ramosukula Secondary(SW) with 49 applications followed by Payneville Primary (GE) with 58 applications
• Only eight schools are recognised as gazetted Schools of Specialisation
• PACE Commercial Secondary School has received the highest number of applications (419)
• The three schools with low application numbers, (East Rand School of the Arts, National School of the Arts and Rosina Sedibane) were added to the system on 7 June 2017. Capturing of applications to these schools will occur before the placement period
“Between now and the placement period, schools will submit their lists to districts for verification and approval. The placement period commences on 24 July 2017.
Once parents receive an offer of placement, they are advised to accept or reject the offer. If parents do not respond, the offer will be given to other parents in the queue
“Once more, we thank the people of Gauteng for the overwhelming response to the online admissions. The early processing of admissions means that learning and teaching can commence on the first day of the 2018 academic calendar,” said MEC Panyaza Lesufi.
The department will be using the application data to plan for infrastructural provisioning of stationery and furniture, as well as employment and allocation of educators.
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