Gauteng Education Reopens Online Admissions for Grade 1 and Grade 8 Learners – What You Need to Know

Gauteng’s Education Department is offering a fresh chance for parents and guardians to place their children in schools for the 2025 academic year. The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has reopened its online application system for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners who were not placed during the initial application period.

Important Dates for Online School Admissions

The reopened application window will be available from Wednesday, 11 December 2024 until 30 January 2025. This move aims to accommodate the 19,000 unplaced learners who were unable to complete their applications or missed the initial placement opportunity. To date, over 325,000 learners have already been successfully placed for the upcoming school year.

What Parents Need to Know

According to GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona, the key to a successful application is completeness. Parents must ensure that all required documents are submitted to avoid delays. “If you don’t provide the required documents in full, the application will be considered incomplete,” Mabona stated. He urged parents to use the reopened system to verify school availability and ensure all documentation is in order.

Documents Needed for Online Applications

For a smooth application process, parents are reminded to have the following documents ready:

• Proof of home address
• Proof of work address
• Latest Grade 7 school report (for Grade 8 applicants)
• Clinic card or immunisation report (for Grade 1 applicants)

The initial application period ran from 11 July to 14 August 2024, drawing a remarkable 828,364 applications in total. Of these, 353,409 applications were for Grade 1, and 474,955 were for Grade 8. However, out of these, 325,858 applications were complete, while 19,032 were incomplete.

As of mid-October 2024, 199,492 applicants had already been placed. This left 126,366 learners still awaiting placement, including 46,386 applicants who did not accept their placement offers within the designated seven-day window and were auto-placed.

MEC Matome Chiloane’s Assurance

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane reassured concerned parents, emphasizing the department’s capacity to place learners in schools, particularly in high-demand areas. “Parents must not worry. We will place your children. We have capacity and are expanding it, especially in high-pressure areas, to ensure placement at schools near their homes.”

With the reopening of the online application system, parents now have another chance to secure a school placement for their children. The application process can be completed via the GDE’s website, and for any assistance, parents can contact the GDE at 0800 000 789. Additionally, the GDE has released a helpful tutorial video to guide applicants through the online process.

Placement Timeline and Future Updates

The placement process will continue, with pupils being placed in schools starting 16 September 2024. Parents can expect placements to be completed well ahead of the 2025 academic year, ensuring that all children are accommodated.

For families still waiting for placement, this is a vital opportunity to finalize applications before the 30 January 2025 deadline.

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