Edu department yet to finalise placement of learners in Polokwane
The department maintains that its placement policy is based on feeder zones, meaning learners are assigned to the nearest public school to their home address.
POLOKWANE – The Department of Education has yet to finalise the placement of learners in Polokwane schools, despite missing its self-imposed deadline last Wednesday.
According to department spokesperson Mike Maringa, the delay is due to the ongoing process of verifying late applications, reviewing rejected cases, and accommodating newly relocated learners.
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He assured parents that all qualifying children would be placed.
Polokwane’s Pietersburg Circuit has the highest number of applicants across the province, highlighting the urgent need for new schools and improved infrastructure.
While the department has earmarked sites in Greenside and Bendor for new schools, construction has yet to begin.
To address the crisis, the department has introduced mobile classrooms to expedite admissions for unplaced learners.
Maringa announced that the number of unplaced children had dropped from 816 to 246 and promised that all qualifying learners would be accommodated soon.
Most affected students are in lower grades between Gr R and Gr 7.
Parents continue to queue at circuit offices, seeking placement for their children.
Some have repeatedly visited the offices, only to be asked to correct application errors, while others have expressed frustration over school allocations based solely on proximity rather than personal preference.
The department maintains that its placement policy is based on feeder zones, meaning learners are assigned to the nearest public school to their home address. As the backlog narrows, parents remain hopeful for a swift resolution.
