Gauteng education department unveils new 2024 online admissions process for grades 1 and 8

The 2024 online admissions process for grades 1 and 8 will open on June 15 at 8am and close on July 14 at midnight.

Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane on Sunday outlined the application and placement process for online admissions.

Chiloane said the admissions will follow a single application process, meaning parents and guardians applying for grades 1 and 8 will all apply at the same time. Offers will also be issued at the same time during the placement process.

Chiloane said the system has been improved and will operate much better than it did in the previous year.

Parents have been urged to follow through with the processes until completion.

“During the application period, applicants will be required to create login credentials (username and password) which they will use to access the online admissions system. Once applicants have gained access to the system, they must begin with the registration process and ensure they follow each application step correctly,” Chiloane said.

He said in every step, there will be constant communication through an SMS. 

Chiloane advised against using internet cafes, saying they are not reliable.

“We have set up walking centres at our district offices and schools for parents to be able to walk in and do these applications,” he said.

Parents have been encouraged to use the home address within the school feeder zone application option to see schools with feeder zones that cover their home address.

“To increase the chances of placement closer to the parent's home address, parents should select schools with feeder zones that cover the parent’s home address. Parents are encouraged to apply to a minimum of three schools and a maximum of five schools for each learner. Parents must remember to read and accept the terms and conditions.”

Chiloane assured that all schools will remain open and accessible on the system for applications during the application period.

He said placements will be based on placement criteria and availability of spaces in line with school capacity.

Documents required include parents' and children's IDs or passports and proof of home address.

The documents can either be uploaded online on the admissions system or submitted physically to the school(s) selected during the application.

“Parents and guardians must ensure the information on the documents they provide matches the information they enter into the system when applying. All documents must be submitted within seven days of applying,” said Chiloane.

Applications without valid proof of home address will be considered incomplete.

Parents have been warned against submitting fraudulent documents as schools have systems to verify such documents.

Chiloane said the first placement will start on September 4 and he has encouraged parents to quickly accept their offers to help free up space on the system for others.

He said the placement period will continue until the last pupil is placed.

Addressing the issues of overcrowding at high-pressure schools, Chiloane said they are continuing to fund identified schools to increase their capacity through the department's self-build programme and provision of mobile classrooms.

He said schools converting classrooms dedicated for teaching as specialist rooms will now require permission from the department.

Applicants who do not have access to the internet or resources required to apply have been encouraged to visit any one of the department's 80 decentralised walk-in centres located across 15 education district offices.

Chiloane said he was concerned about the recurring challenges of safety, including stabbings and gangsterism in and around schools in the province.

He said the department, in collaboration with other provincial departments, law enforcement agencies and communities, will be rolling out initiatives to intensify its safe school strategy and other related interventions to ensure schools remain relatively stable, peaceful and disruption-free.

TimesLIVE

Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.