Registrations for 2015 now closed
GDE will assist late applicants but they will not necessarily be admitted to a school of the parents' choice.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed that Tuesday 27 May 2014 was the last day on which parents and guardians could submit forms and documents to schools to have their children registered for the 2015 academic year.
The GDE launched the Public School Admissions Campaign on 7 April 2014 to encourage parents to apply early to avoid the last-minute rush in 2015.
“Parents seeking to register their children for admission in a public school had until today (27 May) to go to their nearest school to pick up application forms for pupils who want to start either Grade 1 or Grade 8 in this province in 2015. These application forms should have been returned to the school between 15 April 2014 and 27 May 2014,” GDE spokesperson Phumla Sekhonyane says.
The MEC for Education in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi expresses appreciation to parents who adhered to the admissions period and applied early.
“We would like to thank all parents for cooperating during the registration period. Your timeous response will enable us to ensure that all our schools are ready to operate from the first day of school in 2015,” Lesufi says.
Lesufi also indicates that the department will explore possible ways of improving the admissions, including the role that ICTs can play in this process.
Gauteng has over 2 000 public ordinary schools that accommodate 1,9 million pupils. The province is also prone to a high demand for space, therefore applying early allows them to plan better for the next academic year and give parents peace of mind.
“Starting the admission process early affords us ample time to plan adequately for pupils coming in 2015. This involves providing adequate school infrastructure, pupil and teacher support material and furniture, and allocating it to schools on time,” Lesufi adds.
The department spokesperson confirmed that they remain committed to complying with their Constitutional obligation to place all those who need space in public schools in Gauteng.
This means that the department will assist parents with late applications. However, applying late reduces the chances of parents getting access for their children to the school of their first choice where they meet the criteria.
This also means that pupils will be placed at a school where there is space available, although this might not be close to where the parents work or reside.
