The Gauteng education department has opened applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 for next year.
Gauteng Department of Education GDE Grade 1 and Grade 8
To guarantee their child a spot in a Gauteng public school in 2026, the department has urged parents and guardians to submit an online application at www.gdeadmissions.gov.za.
After submitting an application, they will receive SMS notifications of placement offers to accept or reject.

"Parents with children that are currently in Grade R must also apply online for their children to be admitted to Grade 1 for 2026 in line with Admissions Regulations. There is no automatic placement from Grade R to Grade 1. Applications to all other grades must be made directly at your desired school(s) in your immediate area," Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane said at a media briefing.
The GDE’s online application system has been improved to follow a single application process, enabling all applicants to apply at the same time during the application period.
This is the result of an examination of several online parent surveys and stakeholder consultations.
Within seven days of submitting their online application, parents and guardians need to upload or send certified copies of the documents listed below:
- Parent and child ID or passport
- Refugee Permit
- Asylum Seeker Permit
- Permanent Residence Permit
- Study Permit
- South African birth certificate
- Proof of home address
- Proof of work address
- Latest school report and clinic card/immunisation report (Grade 1 only)
- After the application period closes, parents and guardians will have seven days after 26 August 2022 to upload or submit their required documentation listed above.
Schools will be notified automatically each time new documents are uploaded, both during and up to 7 days after the conclusion of the application process, so as to reduce the chance that they may overlook an applicant with uploaded documents. All uploaded documents will be highlighted by the system for verification.






