The 12 June deadline for online applications for Grade 1 and 8 is fast approaching

The Gauteng Department of Education once more calls on parents to apply online for Grade 1 and 8 as the deadline of 12 June is approaching. The department would like to remind parents/guardians who have not yet applied that the system will be shutdown at midnight on Monday 12 June 2017. Further, parents that have applied are reminded to submit the required documents at schools urgently.

To date, a total of 229 828 applications have been processed since the start of the online applications on 2 May 2017. This translates into 125 547 applications for Grade 1 and 104 281 for Grade 8. Most of these are self-applications by parents that utilized the online system. About 45 000 parents utilized the 81 walk-in admission centers for help to apply on online.

We are excited by the overwhelming response by parents/guardians that have already applied and thank them for their cooperation.

According to information at our disposal there are eleven (11) schools where there is a high demand than they can accommodate. These schools have recorded between 1 000 and 1 500 applications for a single grade. The schools are:

• Ekurhuleni (Benoni High School, Boksburg High School, and Alberton High School).

• Tshwane (Pretoria High School for Girls, Laerskool Akasia, Hoërskool Akasia and Hoërskool Gerrit Maritz).

• Johannesburg (Mondeor High School, Sir John Adamson High School, Hoërskool President and Northcliff High School).

There are 391 schools with less than 100 applications, 249 schools with less than 50 applications, 204 schools with less than 25 applications and 58 schools with less than 10 applications. Similar, to last year, many parents in townships waited for the late application period or flooded GDE offices in January to apply for their children. We appeal to parents not to delay and try by all means to apply before 12 June.

Parents are urged to visit the schools below on the 3 June where the Admissions Team will assist parents who have not yet applied, to apply online:

·         Ekurhuleni North: Lesabe Primary School (Watville), 2606 CORNER JANGU AND MONYANE STREET, WATTVIILLE, BOKSBURG,1516

·         Ekurhuleni South

1. Simunye Primary School (Thokoza), 8680 BHEJANE STREET, TOKOZA, 1421.
2. Sekgutlong Primary School (Katlehong), 9610 NTSOSO STREET, MOTLOUNG SECTION, KATLEHONG, 1432
3. Kutloanong Primary School (Vosloorus), 2560 MOKOENA STREET, PORUSLOO, VOSLOORUS, 1475.

·         Gauteng East: Nkabinde Primary School (Kwa Thema) 10681 CNR KGASWANE AND MARULE STREET, SPRINGS,

Otherwise parents can continue to apply online by logging on www.gdeadmissions.gov.za.

The placement process will start from 24 July 2017. Parents should note that availability of space is the key determinant ultimately, of how many children can be placed in a school. Placement will be conducted on a first-come-first-serve basis depending on space availability.  Schools will start placing parents on waiting list A and then parents on waiting list B subject to availability of space. Being on waiting list A is however not a guarantor that a learner will be placed.

During the placement period, principals will receive the approved and signed Waiting Lists from District Directors to process offers of placements. Schools will send offers of placement to parents from 24 July 2017 to 10 August 2017.

Parents are to confirm offers of placement within 7 working days of receiving the offer. Parents not confirming acceptance and/or rejecting offers will forfeit the offer to the next parent.  Districts will finalise placement of learners not placed in schools   from 11 August 2017 to 20 September 2017.

The Gauteng Education MEC, Mr Panyaza Lesufi says: “unfortunately parents/guardians, who will be seeking placements of learners at our schools in January 2018, will have to settle for any offer available from the department without an opportunity to choose a school”.

For more information, contact the Gauteng Department of Education’s Acting Head of Communication Oupa Bodibe on 011 355 1530 or 072 645 4569.