Rise in online school admissions

MORE than 96400 parents had registered their children for the 2023 academic year by April 1, compared to the same period last year in which only 61526 children were registered.

By Tuesday, 101 292 applications were received. Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said: “We are very aware that there are still thousands of parents that have not yet applied. We appeal for them to do so by April 15.”

The online school admission system process was introduced for the first time in 2017, for 2018 enrolment, at 300 schools. This was amplified to 500 schools in 2018 for the following year enrolment and then in all schools from 2019.

“The best advice is for a parent to apply on time (before April 15), apply at more than three schools, if not more, and also choose schools that are within your area of residence,” she said.

Founder and co-ordinator of Parents for Equal Education SA, Vanessa le Roux, said she didn’t know the exact figures for online applications but many parents had struggled in the first week with the online system.

“We also have parents, especially in the rural areas, that don’t have access to these online facilities… We would like to appeal to the WCED to please allow an alternative where parents can go to the schools and fill out these applications …The pop-up stands that should assist parents with online applications are being erected in malls,” she said.

Senior research associate at the University of Johannesburg, Mary Metcalfe, said the online system of application had many benefits.

Executive director of Naptosa, Basil Manuel, said they welcomed the increase.