Over 265 000 learners placed for the 2023 academic year: Is yours?

As 2022 draws to a close, scores of parents of some Grade 1 and 8 learners can go on holidays with a sigh of relief, knowing that their children’s school placements for the 2023 academic year have been secured.

This comes as the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) issued a statement on Wednesday, November 30, confirming that a total of 268 192 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners, whose parents applied using the GDE Online Admissions System, have been successfully placed. This means that a total of 135 465 Grade 1 learners and 132 727 Grade 8 learners are assured to be sitting behind a desk next year.

GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said all those who have not been placed, will eventually be offered placements.

“It must be noted that, after conducting a thorough analysis on our Online Admissions System, it is unlikely that the remaining number of learners will be placed by end of business today, as purported in our previous communication to the public. As such, we wish to profusely apologise to parents for this inconvenience.

“Only 31 549 remain to be placed, and our officials across the province are working tirelessly to ensure that these learners are adequately placed,” said Mabona who added that the placement process will continue until all unplaced learners are placed accordingly.

He broke down the figures to 8 142 Grade 1 learners that are without placements, as well as 23 407 Grade 8 learners who are also in the same predicament.

He unpacked some of the challenges contributing to the outstanding placements.

“As mentioned previously, our challenge is capacity at schools in high pressure areas that received large volumes of applications, which exceed the number of learners they can accommodate. We have therefore decided to increase capacity at all identified high pressure schools by providing mobile units that will be delivered before the commencement of the 2023 academic year. We have also strengthened our transfer placement system, meaning that some learners who could not be placed at preferred schools due to capacity constraints have been, and will continue being, transferred to schools with available space,” Mabona said.

Meanwhile, as of December 1 this year, the GDE will continue with its efforts of placing applicants who were unable to provide the department with their proof of address during the application process.

Subsequently, all those who also submitted incomplete documents such as proof of their residential addresses will be attended to and will be offered placement at the schools which have been identified to have available space.

During this time, parents will be notified of transfer placement offers via a SMS.

They can also log onto the department’s system, to check their placement statuses.

While this may be, the Department will also accommodate late applications as of December 20 this year until January 20, 2023. This will be for those who were unable to apply. Those who have applied during the application period are urged not to apply during this time. GDE also highlighted that schools that have reached full capacity will not be made available to those applying late.

The department also stipulated that those applying late should only submit one application, which will result in immediate placement. This must be followed by all necessary documents which are to be physically submitted at the school they applied to from January 9 next year.

“We wish to assure parents that when the 2023 academic year commences, we are adamant that every Grade 1 and Grade 8 learner in Gauteng will be at a desk with learning material in a class with an educator receiving quality education. As such, we appeal for patience among parents as we embark on the process of finalising the placement of all unplaced learners,” said GDE MEC Matome Chiloane.