GDE encourages parents to make late applications by 30 Jan

GDE

Johannesburg — The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said parents who have not yet found a school for their children have until Thursday 30 January to apply.

In a statement, the GDE said the 2025 online admissions application period for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners in Gauteng ran from 11 July to 14 August 2024. A total of 325 000 pupils were placed across 2 079 schools.

The department said when the late application period started on 11 December 2024, roughly 1 500 out of the 2 079 schools availed themselves for late applicants. The late applicants who applied online were placed immediately.

The GDE established a series of satellite schools in high-pressure areas that could accommodate a further 4 417 seats.

“These satellite schools have provided critical relief for parents, having successfully accommodated more learners who might otherwise have been left without space. Satellite schools highlight the department’s strategic efforts to address capacity challenges and ensure every learner has access to quality education” stated GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona.

Mabona said parents could make inner-grade applications (not Grades 1 and 8) through schools and districts.

Gauteng MEC, Matome Chiloane, said the department was committed to to addressing all queries and placement issues so parents could secure a place for their children.

“We plead with parents to embrace satellite schools as they assist the department to alleviate pressure in some areas,” Chiloane said.

According to The Citizen, The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an oversight visit after suggestions that classrooms were being crammed with up to 50 pupils at some schools in the south of Johannesburg.

Following protests outside an Afrikaans school earlier this week, a separate oversight visit found parents wanting to have their children placed there despite Laerskool Danie Malan being at full capacity.

“Interestingly, North Park Primary School, a nearby English-medium school, has seven empty classrooms and sufficient capacity to accommodate additional learners,” stated DA Pretoria North constituency head Bronwynn Engelbrecht.

“However, parents are not seeking placement at this school because it does not have sporting facilities,” Englebrecht explained.

Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Picture: Pixabay

For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com

Compiled by Matthew Petersen

Article written by