Over 30 000 learners yet to be placed in Gauteng schools
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has advised parents who have not yet applied for placement at a school for their child in 2018 to rather apply in other provinces.
This is for learners in Grades 1 and 8
Lesufi briefed the media on Sunday about his department’s state of readiness ahead of the new school year.
Lesufi says the department still needs to place 34 000 learners.
"To date about 17 000 learners, whose parents applied on time, have not yet been placed. Unfortunately they have applied in high pressure areas where there is a shortage of space. It should be noted that many of these parents declined alternative offers of placement. In addition 22 921 late applications were received towards the end of 2017. Todate 8865 learners from this group have been placed, leaving a balance of 14 056," says Lesufi.
He says of the 17 000 learners who applied on time, parents must rest assured they will be placed before schools reopen on January 17.
Lesufi says the rest of the learners will be placed by the end of January.
The department will open its admission centres between the 13th and 14th of January, where parents will be able to sort out their children’s applications.
Lesufi says no learner or parent will be turned away, but they will have to be added to the waiting list which might take longer than expected.
"We urge parents to accept offers of placement from schools with available space aa many of the schools in the province are and cannot accept any more learners.”