The Gauteng Education Department (GDE) opened online school admissions on 15 June 2023, and after weeks of accepting applications, the deadline for submissions closed on Friday, 21 July 2023.
According to the department, during the application window, they received more than 720 000 Grade 1 and 8 applications for the 2024 academic year.
The GDE has urged all parents and guardians who have not submitted the required documents for their online applications, to do so by next Friday, 28 July 2023 for 2024 school placement.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane noted:
I would like to thank those parents and guardians who took the time to ensure that they play their part in ensuring that they apply on time. What makes us happy is that of all those applications no parent or guardian had to stand in unsafe, long queues outside any school to ensure their children's application was successfully submitted.
Chiloane says the system recorded 310 994 Grade 1 applications and no less than 413 208 Grade 8 applications, which brings the total applications received to 724 202.
Can Parents Still Submit Documents?
Gauteng Education spokesperson Xolani Mkhwemte, explains that the system permits parents to create credentials and apply. However, if they do not that the necessary documents, they’ll then have seven days to ensure that the documents are uploaded or submitted to the respective schools.
Mkhwente says the closing date to submit and upload documents is Friday 28 July 2023.
Should applicants fail to submit the requested documents it will result in their applications being considered as incomplete.
Documents Required
All parents and caregivers are required to submit certified copies of the follow documents:
- Copy of Child’s Birth Certificate
- Parent/ Gaurdian copy of Identity Document
- Proof of the parents/ guardians residential or work address
- Immunisation Card for Grade 1
- Latest Report Card
- Study Permit for legal immigrants and
- Proof of legal guardianship id not a biological parent
Once all the required documents are submitted the department will then start to verify them and the system will update the document status, and a SMS will be sent to acknowledge that the documents have been submitted.
Learner Placement Offers
The GDE has revealed that the placement period will commence on 4 September 2023, where placement offers will be sent out to applicants with complete applications via SMS.
Parents and caregivers are then required to accept or reject the placement offer to secure their children's spot for next year.
It is important for parents/ guardians to remember that ALL placements are subject to the priority of placement criteria and availability of space per school.
If applicants cannot be accommodated at the school, they applied to due to the school having reached capacity, they will receive transfer offers of placement at the next closest schools with available space.
Furthermore, the department has noted that parents are urged to be patience during the placement period. They added, “We understand that high-pressure schools may experience significant demand, we therefore kindly request patience and understanding from applicants as we work to place all learners.”
Should parents have any questions, they are encouraged to email the department or Call them on 0800 000 789 / 011 355 0000.
