The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has updated parents on the state of readiness in Gauteng schools reopening.
Regarding the first day of school, the GDE applauded parents who applied on time for Grade 1 and 8 online admissions for 2020.
According to Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC for Education, “Members of the Executive Council (MECs) were deployed to various schools across the province to oversee the smooth running of the first day of school. They will assess conditions in each of the schools to which they are deployed, as well as consult with communities on education related matters. In addition, for the first time, they will also asses Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre’s, as this function will now be a responsibility of the department of education.”
He said the non-negotiables are that, “All learners are in class, on time, learning with the necessary stationery and textbooks. All educators are in class, on time, teaching with the correct resources.”
Regarding admissions placement, Lesufi said, “Our parents are accustomed to the online admission application process, during this period we received many applications on the first day more than all other years, which means that parents are getting used to the system.
“We have received and processed about 700 appeals which were compounded by implementation of the new Admissions Regulations. All appellants should receive their responses by 14 January 2019. All appeals were carefully considered and fairly adjudicated. The outcome of each appeal is based on compliance with Admissions Regulations and availability of space at schools.
Our challenge is capacity than the system, parents are reluctant to accept offered spaces for different reasons.
“Unfortunately, we can only accommodate a certain number of Learners at our schools and as such call upon parents to accept placement offers by the as these are the only spaces available at some schools.”
Regarding late applications, the department said they opened the system for late online applications on Wednesday, 15 January which will close on Friday, 24 January.
“Only schools with capacity will be availed in the system during this period. Applicants will provisionally be placed, until they submit documents to the school accordingly. No objections or appeals will
be entertained. Based on the stats on the system we have more than 900 Primary Schools and more than 370 High Schools with space available for late applications.
“All Districts are operating as walk-in centres to assist parents with applications from 15 to 24 January 2020. Parents who have not submitted documents are advised to visit Districts for placement, Districts are to place applicants and send parents to identified schools with available space to submit documents. Parents who need assistance are encouraged to visit the district offices.”
Lesfufi added, “We are aware that some parents have lost hope and are angry at our officials at District offices. Some even resort to violence. This, is to assure parents that, the department is doing everything possible to accommodate all learners. We appeal for patience, calm and cooperation in the interest of learners.”
