Western Cape Sees Near-Complete School Placements for Grade 1 and 8

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The new school year got underway earlier this week. The Western Cape Education Department is still working to place learners at school in the province. 


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The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) announced that 98% of Grade 1 and 8 learners in the province have been placed in schools for the 2025 academic year, which began on January 15th.

"As of January 14th, we have allocated places for 118,914 learners, or 98%, of the Grade 1 and 8 applications received by the December 31st deadline," the WCED stated.

Placement efforts are ongoing for the remaining 2% of learners, totaling 2,478. Since the start of the school year, over 300 late applications have been received.

We understand this is a stressful time for parents awaiting placements, and we urge their cooperation as we work to accommodate all children as quickly as possible

Parents who have not yet applied for the 2025 school year are encouraged to submit applications immediately at their local education district office.

Over 1.2 Million Learners Enrolled in Public Schools

More than 1.2 million learners have enrolled in public schools for the 2025 academic year, including 107,000 first-time Grade 1 students and 100,000 entering Grade 8.

New Schools to Address Growing Enrollment

The WCED is expanding the provincial school system with the construction of nine new schools.

"Our education system is growing, and we are taking steps to accommodate increased enrollment despite budget constraints," said Education Minister David Maynier.

265 additional classrooms will be available for learners in 2025, including six new schools and 180 classrooms ready for the start of the year.

Addressing Teacher Shortages and Budget Cuts

Concerns have been raised regarding teacher shortages and budget cuts affecting 2,400 teaching positions.

I stated in my December 2024 budget speech that we would need to provide teachers for these new schools and classrooms, and that we are exploring all available options. I emphasized our commitment to fighting for our teachers.

He acknowledged that this decision will impact the budget deficit but stressed the importance of ensuring adequate resources for new and existing schools to accommodate the increased number of learners in 2025.

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