Pretoria - Despite challenges experienced in the past, the Gauteng online admission system for Grades 1 and 8 will be used again this year.
The Gauteng Department of Eduction has said the applications for the 2023 academic year would open on July 22 and close on August 19.
The department said it had reviewed the online system as well as the previous two-phased approach.
“After an analysis of online parent surveys and stakeholder consultations, the system has been enhanced to follow a single-application process, allowing all applicants to apply at the same time during the application period.
“Placement will be conducted according to the home address within feeder zone, siblings, work address within 30km radius and beyond 30km radius,” he said.
Documents required when applying online include parent and child ID or passport, refugee permit, asylum- seeker permit, permanent residence permit, a study permit, a South African birth certificate, proof of home or work address, and the latest school report and clinic card for Grade 1 applications.
“Parents must submit certified documents within seven days of applying, and must apply at a minimum of three and a maximum of five schools.”
The department said that as part of the system enhancement process, applicants would be afforded the opportunity to make informed choices regarding the languages offered.
“Language of learning and teaching, home languages and additional languages offered by each school will be visible on the system,” it said.
All applicants would be granted an opportunity to apply to a school of their choice, according to the selected application option.
The department said that was an improvement as previous complaints received stated that schools were not available for certain application options. As such, all schools would remain open for applications for all during the application period.
However, parent Koketso Matjiane, from Mabopane said applying online was not a good option because there were parents who did not have the resources to do so.
“Some of the parents do not know how to apply online, it is a huge challenge. This has become an ongoing thing; they tell you to apply online for your child but when you do, there are options that you do not want, unlike when it was manual.”
Matjiane’s concerns are for parents who may not have access to the internet.
“There are parents who are not working, yet you have to apply online. It was easier when you went straight to the school and applied manually.”
Another concern was the distance learners would need to travel if they had not been placed in schools near their home. It would increase the learner’s travelling time and transport costs.
Matjiane said the department should allow people more time to register.
“They also need to give people an option on whether you want to apply online or to submit documents at schools. Remember, some people are closer to school than to an internet café.”
MEC Panyaza Lesufi said parents and guardians seeking space for their child at a school for Grades 1 or 8 in 2023 had to diarise the dates.
“Officials incorporated inputs from our stakeholders on how to improve the system. We are hopeful that these implemented enhancements will be helpful to all applicants.
“Accordingly, we must reiterate that capacity remains our challenge in Gauteng, and a factor that applicants must always bear in mind when applying.”
SMS notifications informing applicants whether their application was successful or unsuccessful will be sent from October 3 to 31.
Pretoria News