Now parents can track school applications on line

APPLYING to a new school will become easier for parents as the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has launched a system that allows parents to track their applications to public schools.

The system has been welcomed by the National Professional Teachers Association of South Africa (Naptosa).

Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said the department faced a large number of application and school admissions-related queries that put pressure on the system. It’s hoped the new system will relieve this.

“The function will allow a parent or guardian to check via the WCED’s website if an application submitted to the school has been captured on the School Admissions Management Information System…

“Parents can check their application using their child’s ID number or Centralised Education Management Information System number.”

Schäfer said the main issue this year in placing children in schools on time was late placement.

“Parents have to apply before the end of the first term of 2018 for 2019, to enable schools to process applications during the second term. The department has to implement measures during the third term to accommodate all children needing places in 2019.”

Parents or guardians can access the new function via the WCED website and view the status of the application.

Schools must inform parents of the outcome in writing of their applications by June 22. Parents have to confirm acceptance by the end of the second term by July 23.

“We urge parents to confirm acceptance by this deadline to avoid ‘double parking’, where learners are enrolled at more than one school, or appear on several waiting lists.

“This will make it easier for schools and the department to place learners who relocate unexpectedly at the end of the year, and late arrivals.”

Naptosa executive director Basil Manuel said he could only see good come from such a system.

“There are many implications to a learner coming into a school system because of the admission and application process. So a monitoring system like this can only have advantages.”

Manuel said the system should be launched nationwide and parents should be able to apply for their child no matter where they were.