One day left to apply for school admission

Parents and guardians who plan to enrol learners at public schools in the province for the 2020 academic year are left with only one day to apply for admission as the applications period closes tomorrow (Friday).
The Department of Education declared applications open on 8 April. Departmental spokesperson Sam Makondo emphasised that they started early this year and called on parents and legal guardians not to wait until the last minute.
A lot of advocacy work on learner admission was done, he stated and added that they hoped the message was received accordingly. As for late applications, Makondo stated that they would be centralised for placement and learners placed where the space was available and not according to parental preference.
He explained that they have dealt with many late applications this year and added that they were mainly in hotspot areas like Polokwane. Some of the parents who applied in these hotspot areas were not qualifying in terms of the criteria because they left nearest schools, he explained.
Documents that are needed for applications for South African residents include a birth certificate, immunisation card, transfer card and last report card and for foreign nationals a study or work permit, temporary or permanent residence permit and evidence that you have applied for permission to stay in South Africa would be required.
Makondo indicated that 1 685 778 learners are catered for in different schools across the province this year of which 95 154 are in Grade 12.
When asked about the delivery of study material to schools, he said the process of capturing top-up orders for textbooks was underway where schools had indicate their needs for 2020 for the department to place orders. Delivery is set to follow in the last quarter.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za