Gauteng schools to increase classroom capacity: GDE
By this week, the Department had placed 267 611 (94, 63%) applicants, which reflects an increase of 3 859 placements.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) says it is working closely with schools in high-pressure zones to increase their classroom capacity to accommodate unplaced learners.
"It is also important to note that the department has identified some schools in affected areas that will be assisted with the provision of mobile classrooms," said the Department's Steve Mabona in a statement.
"We will also partner with independent schools to accommodate excess learners from our public schools accordingly, in consultation with respective parents."
The Department's statement comes in the wake of the chaos around school placements that erupted at the beginning of November with parents queueing at district offices to secure placements for their children in the schools of their choice.
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In addition to addressing classroom capacity, Mabona says the GDE will introduce English and Afrikaans as the Language of Teaching and Learning (LoTL) in the under-subscribed township schools.
"The said schools will be assisted to acquire the necessary educators that have qualifications and proficiency to teach in the required LoT," he said.
"The department is also initiating the process of merging single medium schools with low learner enrolments, to open English medium schools in high-pressure zones."
Mabona says as of Tuesday this week, the Department had placed 267 611 (94, 63%) applicants which reflects an increase of 3 859 placements.
"The remaining 14 617 applicants are still to receive placement offers and must be placed by the 30 November 2019 deadline," sais Mabona.
He said during the online admissions application period, which started on 20 May 2019 to 22 July 2019, the department received a total of 310 350 applications. Of these, 27 563 applicants have not submitted the required documents, while 282 787 applicants have submitted the documents.
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“We are undoubtedly working diligently, ensuring that schools increase their classroom capacity to accommodate additional unplaced learners by 30th November. Parents are therefore urged to accept offers given or immediately object if not suitable, so that those rejected offers can be given to other applicants. Nevertheless, our main objective is ensuring that no learner is without a school,” said MEC Lesufi.
"A parent that does not prefer the offer of placement given should lodge an objection with the District. Objection forms are available at District offices," he says.