The Gauteng Department of Education has announced the approval of the regulations on school admissions, including the newly determined feeder zones by the Gauteng Legislature.
In 2016, the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the Department of Education after Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi took the matter to the apex court.
The court ruled that the department had powers to determine feeder zones of all schools in the province.
The key changes in the regulations include:
• Affirming the power of the head of department (HOD) to administer admissions in the province.
• Outlaws all forms of unfair discrimination.
• Delegates authority of determining feeder zones to the department.
• Enables the management of admissions at the entry phase grades through an online admissions process .
Lesufi said about 2 067 maps were finalised and published. However, about 334 schools contested the proposed feeder zones, and their concerns were addressed.
“We must emphasise that the adjudication process was in favour of 90 per cent of schools that contested, and recommended adjustments which were implemented accordingly.
“The remaining 10 per per cent schools unfortunately misinterpreted their feeder zones, confusing the 30km application radius with the feeder zone determination which was not provided for in terms of the criteria for determining feeder zone.”
Panyaza said that during the admissions application process, the said amended regulations were intended to assist learners to access a school in compliance with the set criteria which include:
• If their place of residence is closest to the school within the feeder zone.
• Has a sibling in the school.
•The place of employment of at least one parent of the applicant is within the feeder zone.
• Learners’ place of residence is within 30km radius of the school, and this will depend on space availability
• Learners’ place of residence is beyond a 30km radius of school, once more availability will be a determining factor.
“The feeder zone determination plays a significant role in ensuring that access to our schools is fair, transparent and conducted in an equitable manner,” Lesufi said.
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