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Gauteng Department of Education MEC Matome Chiloane revealed on Tuesday that over a thousand learners are still to be placed.
“A total of 292 145 learners have applied, so far the department has managed to place 290 751, and 1 394 have not been placed, we have successfully placed 99.52% of the learners,” Chiloane said.
Of the total number of learners still to be placed, 236 have applied for grade 1 and 1 158 for grade 8. This translates into 0.48% of the total number of learners with no school.
The Department procured a total of 419 mobiles to address pressure of unplaced applications across the province. The procurement of self-build classroom is also used to increase placement capacity.
“We continue to encourage schools to be part of the self-build programme. In high pressure areas we are establishing satellite schools. There is a concerted effort to work with the sister departments to acquire more land to increase the number of schools in high pressure areas,” Chiloane said.
In Ekurhuleni North District, 236 Grade 1 applicants remain unplaced in Olifantsfontein. Chiloane said the school will receive three additional mobile units to increase the school capacity.
More mobile units will be accommodated on the grounds of a local church to accommodate the remaining unplaced Grade 1 applicants.
Meanwhile 501 Grade 8 applicants remain unplaced in the Kempton Park Area. The schools will confirm the available spaces for further placement once applicants report to schools on day one (Wednesday January 11, 2023).
The department has requested the schools to use specialist rooms to accommodate learners.
In Tshwane West District, 223 Grade 8 applicants around Akasia/Theresa Park remain unplaced. The department is in the process of building a satellite high school to accommodate the remaining unplaced applicants .
For Johannesburg West District there are 434 Grade 8 applicants still remaining to be placed in Roodepoort. MEC said the department is negotiating to occupy facilities used by Robinhood College in Maraisburg.
“But 10 Classrooms not in use will be cleaned with minor renovations done before the end of January 2023,” he said.
On Tuesday, MEC Chiloane revealed that the department received 8 375 late applications since 20 December 2022. From the total, 5 739 applied for grade 1, and 2 636 for grade 8.
“Parents must know that those who applied late will be placed at any available school automatically,” he added.
The deadline for late application is 31 January 2023, and catchup programs will be implemented at affected schools.
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