The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has strongly appealed to the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to proactively open the learner online application system for the 2026 academic year. The DA emphasises that an early start will help break the cycle of chaos, giving parents ample time to submit applications, allowing the department to review submissions thoroughly, and enabling the early opening of late application periods. Such steps are vital to prevent another year of learners being left without placements, missing vital days and months of schooling.

Read more: GDE Grade 1 and 8 online placement process for 2020 commences

The DA has long been advocating for best practices in learner placement processes, calling for earlier application windows and a transparent, accessible, and supportive system. However, as May 2025 is upon us, there has been no official communication from the GDE about when the 2026 admissions process will commence.

Also read: GDE plans to be back online by Wednesday

In 2025, the department confirmed that over 6 377 learners were only placed between January 15 and the final deadline of January 30. This timeline meant that thousands of learners missed nearly two weeks of learning due to administrative delays, technical glitches, and inefficient processes. Parents and schools faced frustration over issues such as system crashes, document upload failures, and unfair placement decisions, which compounded the chaos.

The DA proposes that a provincial government, led by the party, would provide accessible, in-person support to parents, ensuring that no learner is disadvantaged by technological failures or lack of internet access. Additionally, the DA plans to upgrade the online application system to allow parents to track the status of their applications individually, providing greater transparency and peace of mind.

The DA remains committed to engaging with the GDE to overhaul and stabilise the broken learner registration system, ensuring that no child in Gauteng misses a day of school due to administrative failures. Such reforms are essential to securing a smooth, fair, and timely learner placement process for all learners in the province.

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