Parents and guardians have been encouraged to diarise the announced dates for the online admissions process for Grade 1 and Grade 8 in the 2023 academic year, which commence in July.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi announced that the Online Admissions for Grade 1 and Grade 8 for the 2023 academic year will commence on July 22.
“Dear parents and guardians, if your child will be seeking space at a school in Gauteng for Grade 1 or 8 in 2023, make sure you diarise the announced dates as they are very important,” Lesufi said.
This comes after the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) reviewed the online system, as well as the previous two-phased approach following an analysis of various parent surveys and stakeholder consultations.
“Officials incorporated inputs from our stakeholders on how to improve the system. Indeed, 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,” said the MEC.
The department said the system has been enhanced to follow a single application process, which allows all applicants to apply at the same time during the application period.
The application will start on July 22 at 8.00 am for Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications, and will close on August 19 at midnight, while notifications of placements offers to either accept or decline are from October 3 – 31.
“Grade R learners will not automatically be accepted to Grade 1 without application, even if they apply to the schools where they are currently enrolled in. This means that all learners that are 5 years old turning 6 years old by 30 June 2023 and are currently enrolled in Grade R in a school or ECD centre, as well as learners that are not in any type of school, must apply for admission at a minimum of three and a maximum of five schools,” the GDE said.
Parents and guardians will be given up until August 26 to upload their supporting documents which include, parent and child ID or passport; refugee permit; asylum seeker permit; permanent residence permit; study permit; south african birth certificate; proof of home address; proof of work address and latest school report and clinic card/immunisation report (grade 1 only).
“However, documents that are uploaded or submitted after the application period closing date will be considered as incomplete applications and will only receive placement at available schools between December 1 – 15,” the department said.
Meanwhile, Schools of Specialisation will admit learners based on an aptitude or talent from 20 May – 20 June 2022 and parents and guardians applying to boarding schools in Gauteng must apply directly at identified schools.
Applications to boarding schools will take place from June 1 – August 19.