Despite the 2025 school year already underway, more than 1,600 learners in Limpopo remain unplaced in schools. The provincial Department of Education says it is working tirelessly to resolve the situation.
The unplaced learners are concentrated in hotspot areas such as Pietersburg, Mokopane, Tzaneen, and Lephalale. According to the department, many of these learners' applications did not meet the eligibility criteria for placement.
The majority of these applicants were not admitted last year because their applications failed to meet the set criteria. However, they were allowed to appeal.
Currently, the department is processing appeals and late applications submitted earlier this year when schools reopened.
The Limpopo Education department expressed confidence that all qualifying learners will be placed by 29 January 2025, once the headcount exercise and other logistical arrangements are completed.
The Pietersburg Circuit in Polokwane has reported the highest number of unplaced learners, particularly for Grades R, 1, and 8. While 33,661 learners have already been placed across all grades in the circuit, 816 remain unallocated and will be processed accordingly.
Parents and guardians have been urged to remain patient as the department finalises the admission process.
Officials are confident that all qualifying learners will be placed within circuits where they live, and transport will be provided for those placed outside a five-kilometer radius.
The department wishes to assure parents that all qualifying learners will be admitted within the circuits where they reside and Transport will be provided for those who will be allocated spaces outside the 5 kilometres radius.
However, the department has raised concerns about parents submitting falsified documents and fraudulent addresses to secure spaces for children outside their feeder zones.
“Parents and caregivers are warned against falsifying documents, as this is a criminal act and could result in police cases being opened,” the department cautioned.
We urge parents not to resort to forceful admissions of their children.
