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Not enough parents used online system to apply for Grades 1 & 8 in Gauteng

Online applications for Grades one and eight in Gauteng account for only 51% of the total current pupil enrolment, which may indicate a poor response from parents who should’ve applied for their children in some areas.

This is according to Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, who today briefed media on the latest news with regards to the Admissions Site process.

The stats present the possibility of parents unsuccessfully applying for their children who could be left out of the new academic year.

Added to that is the Gauteng Education Department’s mountainous task of placing more than 72 347 learners who successfully applied through its online Admissions Site on time, as the placement deadline date looms.

Lesufi said his department is first dealing with parents who successfully applied for their children going to Grade one and/or eight in 2017, by the 1st June 2016 deadline date.

In total, 682 142 applications were received, which includes parents who also mistakenly registered for other grades that are not accommodated on the system.

By 1st June, Grade one applications totalled 118 534, while Grade eight applications stood at 91 221, a combined total of 209 755.

Other grades (two to seven and nine to 11) totalled 18 425.

The province currently has space for 231 386 Grade one pupils and 176 854 Grade eight pupils.

The department anticipates that by 7th September, it will conclude the placement of pupils who applied by 1st June and thereafter, deal with late applications, some of which are still coming as of today.

“Out of a total of 129 759 offers of placement to parents, only 56 844 learners (35 617 Grade one and 21 227 Grade eight) have been placed in various schools. That means only 44% of all applications for Grade one and eight have been placed while 72 347 (41 412 Grade one and 30 935 Grade eight) are still pending confirmations by parents,” Lesufi said.

To date, 63% (1 306) of Gauteng public schools have successfully placed pupils for next year.

“Clearly the pace of placement is moving slower than anticipated partly due to parents not confirming offers,” the MEC added.

Parents are urged to confirm acceptance or reject offers of placement either on the Admissions Online Application, or by visiting schools where assistance will be provided.

Failure to respond will result in parents forfeiting their offers of placement and causes further placement delays.

Late applications

A total of 29 575 (16 363 Grade one and 13 212 Grade eight) applicants were registered after the closing date, but these will only receive offers of placement after all applicants who applied on time are placed.

The department wants to avoid running the risk of having a rush of applicants early next year and therefore will not be accepting any applications in January.

“Parents, who have not yet made applications for admission for the 2017 learner intake, are encouraged to apply online or to go to the relevant district where assistance will be provided. Late applications will be placed by 16th November 2016. This will allow the department to provide schools with the necessary resources,” Lesufi said.

The department will provide parents with unplaced students an opportunity to resolve queries in Tshwane, Sedibeng West, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg at the regional open days between October and November.

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