Cape Town - A decision by the Western Cape Education Department to set uniform timeframes for pupil applications to mainstream public schools has been criticised by principals.
In a recent letter the department requested schools to open the admissions process for the 2017 academic year on February 1 next year and to close it on March 11. This year the deadline for applications was June 30 and in 2014 the final application deadline was in September.
According to the letter, parents would have to be informed of the outcome of their application by June 24 and confirm acceptance by July 25.
If schools had any available places after this date, they could fill them during the third term.
“The alignment is important as it is evident that schools have varying periods for admission which stretch from February until January the following year,” the letter, by provincial education head Penny Vinjevold, stated.
The department said the different admission dates impacted negatively on planning for the provision of classrooms, learning material and staff establishments.
“The different admission dates of schools also mean that parents wait for the outcome of applications which they receive at different times throughout the year.”
Principals who spoke to the Cape Argus raised several issues with the new timeframes.
Yusuf Abrahams, principal of Macassar High School, said while early application was encouraged, there were many parents who applied late in the year or even once school had re-opened.
“We can’t turn kids away but we can’t control when parents will apply.”
Brian Isaacs, principal of South Peninsula High School, said the department was taking decisions without consulting principals. “They decide what is good for schools while we have a system that is not equal.”
Joh Dorfling, principal of DF Malan High in Bellville, said the school usually held an information session with prospective Grade 8 pupils in April.
Applications were usually dealt with in May.
“The new date came as a quite a surprise to us. In February (when applications are scheduled to open) pupils and teachers are just settling in. To close applications by March is very early.”
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said the department understood that some schools felt that the dates were too early in the year but had to look at constructive ways to place pupils effectively.
Cape Argus