School admission can be a nightmare for parents, as there is the possibility of rejection which can be pretty devastating. However, there are other ways in which parents may still be able to get their child into the school that rejected their application.
The majority of parents may not know what to do but there are rules and guidelines put in place to help them such as the South African Schools Act.
The South African Schools Act states that:
- For both state and private schools, no one can be refused admission to a school on the basis of race or religion.
- All children between the ages of 5 and 15 have to go to school. For both state and private schools, children can be accepted in Grade R in the year they turn 5 and in Grade One in the year they turn 6.
- No one registering at a State school can be charged a registration fee or asked to pay fees upfront.
- No child can be refused entry to a state school because his or her parents have not paid school fees in the past.
- Where possible children should be given access to a state school within 5 kilometres of their home. In some provinces, government assists learners with transport when they live more than 5 kilometres from school.
When your child has been refused admission you may request a written explanation from the provincial department or the school principal expressing the reasons why your child has been refused admission.
The expressed reasons will give the parents a better understanding of why their child was refused admission and how they can oppose the decision if applicable.
Here is what you can do if your child's schooling application has been rejected:
Waiting List
In the case where your child has been rejected because there wasn't space, you can request to be put on a waiting list. If a space becomes available at your preferred school and your child’s name is at the top of the waiting list, that place will be automatically allocated to you and you will be contacted.
Appeal
Each school has an admission policy which is made available to parents. Parents are advised to study the policy and provide the necessary documents needed to ensure a successful application. If you feel that your child has been rejected unfairly and not in accordance with the admission policy you can lodge an appeal.
If the methods above are unsuccessful and all other school applications have been unsuccessful, you can contact your province's local education department to find an available place.
