Thousands waiting to be placed at schools

More than 40 000 children are still waiting to be placed in schools for Grade 1 and Grade 8 next year, according to Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi.

“During the application period, the department received a total of 222 275 unique applications,” said Lesufi yesterday, explaining that 105 326 of these were for Grade 1 and 116 949 for Grade 8.

“A total of 88 503 Grade 1 applicants and 92 616 Grade 8 applicants are placed.”

This means 18 823 Grade 1 and 24 333 Grade 8 pupils still don’t know where they will be starting the new school year.

“Currently 280 schools [ 144 primary schools and 136 high schools] have reached full capacity,” said Lesufi.

The high-pressure areas include Benoni, Alberton, Johannesburg South, Lenasia, Roodepoort, Bryanston, Midrand, Centurion and Akasia.

Lesufi explained the placement criteria, saying priority was given to applicants who live within the school feeder zone closest to the school.

He said where possible, pupils were transferred to schools that can accommodate them.

Lesufi said parents who decline placement offers will be afforded an opportunity to submit an objection within seven days of receiving an offer.

“The system will, from 16 to 21 December, open for the 33 460 applicants who did not submit documents,” he said.

The online admissions system is scheduled to open for late applications on 22 December and will close on 22 January.