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Call for early registration for school year

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:32

Parents in Mpumalanga are urged to register their children for the 2011 school year before the end of October this year.

The Mpumalanga Department of Education spokesperson Jasper Zwane, said that all schools are required by law to register learners for the 2011 school year from 1 August to 31 October 2010, this applies to both learners re-registering and new applicants seeking admission in the school.

“Early registration of children enables schools and the department to plan all its programmes on time and to ensure that schooling starts on the first day of school re-opening,” Zwane said.

He explained that children who are currently four years and turning five by 30 June 2011 may be registered for Grade R next year, while those who are five years and turning six by June 2011 maybe admitted to Grade 1.

“The principal of the school must give a parent/guardian the admission policy of the school and explain it. A public school may not administer any test for admission to a school, and no learner may be refused admission to a public school on the basis that his or her parents are unable to pay school fees,” said Zwane.

When making an application, parents must make sure that they have documents including birth certificate, immunisation card, and transfer card - or last school report card for learners who previously have been to school. A baptismal certificate will not be regarded as proof of birth date.

For those who are not South African citizens, additional documents are required: a study permit, temporary or permanent residence permit from the Department of Home Affairs, or evidence that the person has applied for permission to stay in South Africa.

Zwane said that a child may be registered provisionally if these documents are not available and the parent or guardian must be given reasonable time to submit them.

“All schools should provide a list of all learners that could not be admitted and the reasons for the non-admission, to their circuit managers by 5 November 2010,” said Zwane. BuaNews and Skills Portal correspondent