Thousands are registering learners online
Since the system went live again this morning, 22 000 people have registered
THE Gauteng Department of Education’s online registration system for grade 1 and 8 learners is back online after it had crashed on Monday as a result of being overloaded.
It experienced over 600 applicants a second which led it to crash. This number has since been increased to manage 3 000 applicants a second, Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, told media on Wednesday morning.
He said the department’s call centre recorded over 3 000 calls on Monday when the system went live and as a result they could not attend to all calls that came through.
“We have since Monday worked tirelessly to address technical issues that caused the system to collapse. We have mobilised additional support and worked on the technical glitches. We have also increased capacity of the system to manage large quantities of applicants,” Lesufi said.
Since the system went live again this morning, 22 000 people have registered.
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Lesufi said they picked up a few residual problems in the system, which includes the following:
• the system would in certain instances pick up schools outside of the province. In some instances parents in one region say they are allocated schools in other region, eg a parent residing in Tshwane being referred to schools in Johannesburg.
• new schools do not appear on the system.
• in certain instances the system will give one option when choosing gender.
• an error message will appear when parents/guardians who wish to log on to edit details.
The department is in the process of rectifying these problems.
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“As a way forward, we have decided to suspend the registration period (pre-load period), which started on April 11 and was to end on April 18. During registration parents were required to create a profile, eg creating username, password and entering personal information and details of their children. This profile is important to transacting on the system and for the department to communicate with the parents.
“The suspension of this process will not disadvantage any parent as it was only meant for collection of data from parents and was not the actual application process, Lesufi said.
Parents who still want to register until April 18 can still do so. Should they experience any challenges, they should contact the department via email on gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za or telephonically on (011) 355 0966/0559/0198/0600, or the toll free number 0800 000 789.
Parents who do not have access to the internet have options of going to schools to be assisted by technicians to register and apply online, visit help desks at district offices, visit Thusanong Centres or connect through free Wi-fi hot pots.
The actual application period will start on April 19 until midnight on June 1.
Parents who had already registered on the system by creating profiles can log on and apply. Parents who have not registered will have to create a profile and then apply.
Placement of learners will run from June 24 until September 7.
For learners who are currently in other grades, applications will be processed by schools from April 11-29.
