Online applications in Gauteng to open in May
The Gauteng Department of Education has again urged parents to apply on time for their grade 1 and 8 children for next year.
Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi briefed the media in Johannesburg on Sunday and confirmed the online application process will open on May 15 and close on July 15.
"The capacity of the admissions online system has been increased from 40 000 to 50 000 simultaneous users. This means we can take 50 000 people on the system at the system, so we don't expect complaints about the system being slow, the system is kicking people or they are unable to access the system, that is history,"
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He said the reason the application process is opening early is to ensure the department is prepared for the next year and to ensure placements.
"Applying on time makes it possible to obtain space in a public school, this is important because there are schools which get full within the first five minutes of the system being open. So parents should not apply late because they live close to the school they prefer. Your proximity to the school does not guarantee a placement, we use the time in which you applied to place your child," added Lesufi.
Parents now have five schools to choose from.
Lesufi said the new system has also ensured that schools do not claim they are full for the next three years or discriminate against learners in any way.
He also warned parents who use fraudulent documents that the system is able to detect that and automatically disqualify them.
Placements will take place between August and September and parents will be expected to accept an offer within seven working days.