The Gauteng Education Department (GDE) has now opened its 2023 online school admission applications for Grade 1 and 8. The department says that it is confident that its systems can handle the high volume of desperate parents racing to enrol their children for the upcoming school year.
The provincial department’s online application system will remain open until Monday 19 August at midnight. While giving an update of the department’s application process, Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi said that the system’s capabilities have been significantly improved.
The technical capability of the system has improved. We can take 40,000 applications at the same time and take 120 applications within an hour which is the total number of spaces that we have.
“We've also ensured that we improve in terms of searches when you punch your I.D number and automatically populate your name and other things,” Lesufi added.
So far, as of Friday afternoon, more than 165,000 Grade 1 and 8 online admissions have been successfully processed by the online admissions system.
Prior to this, parents were unable to view and select schools when applying because Google Maps briefly limited the department’s online Admissions System owing to exceeding a maximum of 6,000 requests per minute.
In order to receive help with applications, parents are also urged to visit the department district offices and decentralised walk-in centres.
Applicants can also contact the GDE's Contact Centre at 0800 000 789 or leave a message on the department's WhatsApp at 060 891 0361 for additional assistance.
