Cape Town - With more than a month to go before the second round of enrolments for the 2015 academic year closes, some schools are already oversubscribed or have long waiting lists.
The parents of pupils who are starting high school or primary school next year and have not yet found places for their children have until October 3 to apply for places at schools.
Brian Isaacs, principal of South Peninsula High in Diep River, said the school had received more than 1 000 applications for 200 Grade 8 places.
“It’s sad when we have so many applications and can’t accommodate everyone. We try to be as sympathetic as we can to the parents.”
Danie Human, principal of Bosmansdam High School in Bothasig, said his school had a waiting listing for Grade 8 pupils.
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said the Western Cape Education Department had received a small number of inquiries from parents who said they couldn’t find places for their children.
“These are being dealt with and have been referred to our district officials who are trying to resolve these cases.”
She said parents who had not found places for their children after the second round of enrolment should follow up with the schools where they had applied in case spaces had opened up.
Parents could call their district office or the department’s call centre on 021 467 2000.
Each district has an official responsible for managing admissions.
“The Western Cape Education Department has developed an on-line database of learners who have not secured a space at a school. We are starting to capture data. Officials will be working on this list to try and secure spaces at schools that still have available spaces.”
Shelver said that in terms of the South African Schools Act any parent of a pupil who had been refused admission to a public school could appeal in writing to the Education MEC against the decision.
Cape Argus