School registration period ends
Today, May 27, marks the last day on which parents can submit forms and documents back to schools for the registration of learners for the 2015 academic year.
The Gauteng Education Department launched the Public School Admissions Campaign on April 7, to encourage parents to apply early to avoid the last minute rush in 2015.
Parents seeking to register their children for admission in a public school have until today to go to their nearest school to pick up application forms for learners who want to start Grade 1 or Grade 8 in Gauteng in 2015.
The MEC for Education in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, expresses appreciation to parents who adhered to the admissions period and applied early.
“We would like to thank all parents for cooperating during the registration period. Your timeous response will enable us to ensure all our schools are ready to operate from the first day of school in 2015,” says MEC Lesufi.
The MEC also indicates that the department would explore possible ways of improving the admissions, including the role that ICTs can play in this process.
Gauteng has over 2 000 public ordinary schools that accommodate 1.9-million learners. The province is also prone to a high demand for space, applying early affords the department to plan better for the next academic year and put parents at ease.
“Starting the admission process early affords us ample time to plan adequately for learners coming in 2015. This involves providing adequate school infrastructure, learner and teacher support material and furniture and allocating it to schools on time,” says Lesufi.
The department remains committed to complying with its Constitutional obligation to place all those who need space in public schools in Gauteng.
This means that the department will assist parents with late applications. However, applying late reduces the chances of parents getting the school of their first choice where they meet the criteria.
This also means that learners will be placed at a school where there is space available, this might not be close to where their parents work or reside.
