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GAUTENG Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi on Sunday announced the launch of online applications for grades 1 and 8 for the 2022 academic year.
The online application process has not been without its challenges, with the department having to attend to numerous technical glitches since its introduction in 2015.
However, Lesufi said 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.
The department further 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,” the department said in a statement.
Lesufi added that this information will be made available to the public via the GDE Website and social media platforms.
“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.”
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 c ell-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 W ork
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.
Inside Education