Gauteng Education urges parents to accept school placements

The 2024 academic year officially commenced on Wednesday.

MEC of Education in Gauteng Matome Chiloane has called on parents to accept available schools for their children. 

Chiloane spoke to the media during the back-to-school visit to Kgatontle Secondary School in Ga Rankuwa, north of Pretoria.

Disgruntled parents who are struggling to obtain placements for their children in schools have been camping at the department’s district offices, hoping to get help.

While the official report is yet to be released, over 21,000 children are reportedly yet to be placed.

"We also continue to appeal to parents to work with us on this matter,” Chiloane said.

"We have high-pressure areas because of the massive residential development that has been taking place. Local government has not really come to the party with this as they approve of these massive developments and not consider schooling spaces, which has put more pressure on us"

Chiloane defended the department's online application system, saying it was not the cause of the delay in placement of pupils. 

He said the challenge is a lack of space at parents'  preferred schools. The placement is an ongoing process.

"In late applications, we offer placement where spaces are available. When the parents apply and accept the space, we consider it as placed, so there are some parents who come afterwards and try to change their choices. Unfortunately, that cannot happen.”