The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has faced an unprecedented influx of extremely late applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners since the beginning of 2024 with a total of 3,579 applications for this year. As of 15 February 2024, 99.6% of Grade 1 and Grade 8 placement applications for the 2024 school year, totalling 124,808, have been resolved, with 529 learners, or 0.4%, still undergoing placement.
The majority of learners awaiting placement are attributed to the submission of extremely late applicants. These applications are categorised into three groups:
On-time applicants
Placement procedures are underway for 25 learners who submitted their applications on time. However, difficulties arise in reaching their parents for necessary communication.
An appeal is made to parents to update their contact details promptly to facilitate communication regarding placement offers.
Late Applications
Late applications refer to placement applications submitted between 14 April 2023 and 31 December 2023.
Placement processes are ongoing for 133 learners who submitted their applications after the deadline but before the end of 2023. Similar challenges persist in contacting these parents, underscoring the importance of ensuring updated contact information with the district office.
Extremely Late Applications
Since the start of the year, the WCED has placed 3,208 of these late applicants, with placement in progress for the remaining 371. However, the department says the unpredictable nature of these applications arriving daily has made planning and resource allocation exceedingly difficult.
We have received new, extremely late applications for 3 579 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners since 1 January 2024 for the 2024 school year.
Officials have attributed the surge partly to financial setbacks, including a significant reduction in their budget. The disruption in the national budget process further exacerbated challenges, delaying infrastructure projects crucial for accommodating increasing admissions demands.
It will take some time to redirect resources to cater for these learners, and this is currently underway. We have also printed resource packs for late applicants and provided these to the district offices.
Despite these challenges, the department says they are committed to delivering new schools and classrooms. They have already completed the 255 additional classrooms and the opening of new schools in various areas. The department has revealed that 317 classrooms are under construction.
So far, we have completed 255 additional classrooms. Learners are already in class at brand-new schools in Belhar, Kwanokuthula, Fisherhaven, Saldanha, Hout Bay and Macassar
The provincial education department has pleaded for parents to be patient as the department works to place learners.
We are doing everything we can to find places for learners as quickly as possible.
