The Gauteng Department of Education’s online application period for 2020 admissions will close today (July 22) at midnight.
Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, said: “As a province, we are pleased that the parent population and stakeholders in Gauteng have embraced the use of the online application system.
“This groundbreaking online application system has provided the department with credible and reliable information. We will, therefore, continue to enhance this system and link it to other existing government systems to further strengthen the credibility of the information attained.”
To demonstrate that parents have embraced the online application system, the highest number of applications was recorded for admissions 2020 when the system went live on May 20, with a total of 220 802 (Grade One: 105 241 and Grade Eight: 115 561) applications.
This reflected an increase of 146 964 (67 per cent) applications compared to the opening day of admissions 2019, that had 73 838 (Grade One: 39 212 and Grade Eight: 34 626) applications registered.
On July 17, a total of 298 003 (Grade One: 154 264 and Grade Eight: 143 739) applications were registered for the 2020 academic year.
“I wish to express my gratitude to those parents who came in numbers to apply for the 2020 academic year,” said Lesufi.
Application period
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department has been reasonable and considerate to allow, for the first time in the history of the online admissions system in Gauteng, the application period to remain open for the June/July school holidays from June 18 to July 8.
“This essentially allowed parents an additional 15 days to apply.
“Our records reflect that parents took full advantage of this opportunity, as 8 069 applications were registered during this period.
“We are deeply disturbed that 62 028 of the 298 003 applicants have not submitted the required documents to schools. Parents will not receive offers of placement from schools where no documents were submitted.
However, to accommodate parents who could not submit documents within seven days following the application and those who made applications during the school holidays, provision has been made for schools to accept documents until July 31 at 2pm. No further extension will be granted.
The placement period for admission 2020 will commence on August 30 and close on October 31.
“It must be noted that placement offers will not be sent to all parents on the same day, as the department will be processing offers systematically daily in line with the order of application options outlined in the admissions regulations.
“Placement offers will be sent to parents until October 31,” Mabona said.
Parents are, therefore, urged to remain calm if they do not receive offers immediately after the commencement of the placement period.
Subsequently, they may only follow up after October 31 if they did not receive any offers of placement.
Applications can be made by logging on to www.gdeadmissions.gov.za or by visiting the nearest school, district or head office for assistance.
