The education department has announced that the 2024 online admissions process for Grades 1 and 8 is set to open on Thursday, 15 June 2023 at 8am and will close on Friday, July 14 at midnight.
Gauteng MEC of Education Matome Chilaone assured parents that the online admission process for the enrollment of grade one and eight learners for the 2024 academic year will be seamless and that their children will be admitted without any problems, as the system has now improved.
This comes after several parents voiced their grievances with the system after it failed to place some learners on time for the current academic period.
Many parents said the system was not helpful and sometimes would slow and not allow them to re-enter the system.
Chiloane stressed that the department was 'working around the clock' to ensure that schools would have enough capacity to enrol every learner for next year.
Our system has been growing over the past 10 years or so. So, the infrastructure need is also becoming exponential, so we have to come up with measures.
He continues, "That is why I say that parents must be rest assured that in terms of capacity, we are working around the clock to ensure that we get the spaces right, so that the capacity is increased.”
With the improvements that the 2024 online system will bring, he said the system would take up to 40 000 applications within a minute.
The department has also set up walk-in centres at district offices and schools for parents to be able to walk in and do these applications.
Parents have been urged to follow through with the processes until completion. He added that in every step, there will be constant communication through an SMS.
During the application period, applicants will be required to create login credentials which they will use to access the online admissions system. Once applicants have gained access to the system, they must begin with the registration process and ensure they follow each application step correctly.
Documents Required
All parents have been urged to gather and certify all the necessary documentation before applications open.
Some of the documents required for the Grades 1 and 8 applications are:
- Parents/ legal guardian Identity Document
- Learner Birth Certificate
- Proof of home/ work address
- Latest Grade 7 School Report (Grade 8 applicants only)
- Clinic Card/Immunisation Report (Grade 1 applicants only)
These documents can either be uploaded online on the admissions system or submitted physically to the schools selected during the application.
“Parents and guardians must ensure the information on the documents they provide matches the information they enter into the system when applying. All documents must be submitted within seven days of applying,” said Chiloane.
The department has stressed that applications without valid proof of home address will be considered incomplete. Parents have been warned against submitting fraudulent documents as schools have systems to verify such documents.
Furthermore, Chiloane also noted that the department would be building more schools to avoid learners not being placed due to space constraints and plan to employ more teachers.
Parents who will be applying for their Grades 1 and 8 children can expect SMS confirmations with placement offers as of September 2023.
