By Jonk wa Mashamba
An online applications for admission at Gauteng public schools for the 2022 academic year, will open on Tuesday 10 August 2021.
The process will be conducted in two phases which are expected to be completed in November.
According to Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng MEC for Education, this year, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has introduced new changes aimed at making the process easier and more manageable for parents, guardians, and public schools in Gauteng.
“The applications for Grade 1 and 8 will take place in two phases. The first phase is for Grade 7 learners currently in public primary schools applying for Grade 8 and the second phase for Grade 1 and 8 learners not in Grade 7 in public schools,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi said the first phase will open on 10 August 2021 at 08h00 and close on 3 September 2021 at 00h00. The second phase will commence on 13 September at 08h00 and close on 8 October at 00h00. The placement of phase 1 will happen between 15 October and 30 November while phase 2 will be between November 15 and November 30.
“To ensure access to applicants who are unable to apply from the comfort of their homes and or offices, the department has identified 47 decentralised walk-in centres in different areas where applicants will be safely assisted. In addition, some District Offices and the Head Office will serve as walk-in centres. This information will be made available to the public via the GDE Website and social media platforms,” Lesufi said.
HE SAID THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE IMPORTANT:
• Before parents or guardians apply, they must provide accurate parent and learner details to schools where their children are currently in Grade 7;
• From Monday, 2 August 2021 – 6 August 2021, primary schools will verify and update parents or guardians’ details including the cell-phone number, Identity Document number and home address;
• It is important that parents provide ONE reliable cell-phone number so that they can receive important SMS notifications regarding the application process. This process is very important because from 10 August 2021, an SMS notification with a LINK will be sent to parents to complete the 5 Step Application Process;
• The parent/guardian will be required to verify the cell-phone number on the system before starting the 5-step application process which consist of verification of parent or guardian details, home address details; learner details, application to a maximum of five schools and uploading documents to system or submitting documents at schools;
• In Phase two, parents and guardians will also complete the 5 Step Application Process without prior verification of details. Parents will also need to upload or submit certified copies of supporting documents to schools they applied to within 7 days;
• The documents required for grade 1 and 8 applications are: Parent and Child ID or Passport; Refugee Permit; Asylum Seeker Permit; Permanent Residence Permit; Study Permit; South African Birth Certificate; Proof of Home Address; Proof of Work Address; Latest School Report and Clinic Card/Vaccination Report (Grade 1 only);
• If a parent uses a cell-phone number that differs from the one provided to the school the system will prompt the parent to contact the school to correct the number;
• Every step of the application process will be confirmed via SMS for security and verification purposes;
• Parents who apply to Schools of Specialisation must ensure that they contact the school to arrange for the auditions or admission tests and
“When a parent or guardian applies to a school for their child, it is critical to remember that the following criteria is considered in order of priority of the following: home address within the school’s feeder zone, sibling and or previous schools, work address within school’s feeder zone and home address which is within 30km radius,” said Lesufi.
“Parents will receive SMSes notifying them about the outcome of their application between 15 October and 30 November 2021. The parent must accept an offer to confirm placement,” he said.
