GDE online application system already experiencing glitches on the first day of applications
"It is very worrying that on the first day that online applications for placement of Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners opens, the system already has glitches."
GAUTENG.- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has said that it has received numerous calls from anxious parents regarding the online application system.
According to the parents the system is not allowing them to select schools, is not showing the correct home address and indicates that there are no schools available. The party said that the current system is not able to handle the amount of traffic as registration was only available for a few minutes. Furthermore, the address function does not always automatically locate where you are, which then forces you to type in an address and location on the online map function.
“To fix this problem, the online map should have a ‘use this current location’ function to automatically pick up your location. In addition, because of the high traffic volumes, the system is hanging and therefore takes parents back to the beginning of the online registration process.”
The DA is demanding that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) urgently fixes the glitches in the system so that parents can apply for schools for their children as soon as possible. Furthermore, we are also urging the department to allow parents to rank their school choices from the first choice to the last choice and ensure that they are allowed to choose up to five schools as currently the system only allows for three choices.
“We will be keeping a close eye on this system as we cannot have a situation where we have many unplaced learners at the start of the new school year. No child should be denied their right to education because the GDE is unable to get their ducks in a row.”
