Hundreds of Gauteng schools still have space. You have 10 days to apply

The Gauteng education department has announced that its systems will be open for late online applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 pupils from Wednesday.

However, parents only have until January 24 to apply, the department said in a Twitter thread on Tuesday.

“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,” the statement read.

“Unfortunately we can only accommodate a certain number of learners at our schools and as such call upon parents to accept placement offers as these are the only spaces available at some schools,” the department added.

The department said it had a total of 912 primary schools and 374 high schools with space availability.

It also revealed it would be partnering with Curro “to mitigate capacity challenges”.

The DA in Gauteng urged the Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to resolve the 2020 admission appeals with “urgency”.

“There are hundreds of parents of Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners who have appealed to the department with regards to their children’s admissions for the 2020 school year but they have as yet received any responses from the department,” it said.

Meanwhile, the FF Plus has called for the online registration system to be abolished.

“It is clear that the system is just creating chaos and, thus, the province should revert back to using the previous system where parents themselves had to apply for their children to be placed at the school of their choice,” it said in a statement.

During a media briefing on Tuesday Lesufi apologised to parents for the delay in appeals.

“I have personally received overwhelming messages from frustrated parents, and indeed the pain is unbearable. On behalf of the Gauteng government, I wish to convey our sincere apology for putting parents through this unbearable pain, I am so sorry,” he said.

He added that “officials are making every effort to ensure that applicants are assisted, and that placement is facilitated without delay.

“We appeal for patience, calm and cooperation in the interest of learners.”

The department said its district offices will be operating as walk-in centres until January 24 to assist parents with applications.

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