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GDE should ensure smooth online admission process for 2021 academic year

The Democratic Alliance (DA)  is calling on the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to ensure that all systems are ready and that there will be no glitches in the system for Online Admission Applications for the 2021 academic year which opens tomorrow.

The Gauteng Admission Online Applications period for Grade 1 and 8 learners for the 2021 academic year will commence on 25 June at 08:00 and close on 25 July 2020 at 24:00.

Following the previous year’s disastrous experience where many parents applied online for their children for Grade 1 and 8 and had not secured school placement timeously. In some instances, the parents were told that there were glitches in the system.

We believe that the department has learnt from the previous year’s disaster and have found ways of improving the system going forward.

The department’s head office and the district offices will serve as walk-in centres to assist parents to make online applications. The department has also identified 34 decentralised walk-in centres across the province where parents will also be assisted to make online applications.

We urge parents to apply for their children as early as possible so that they will have time to prepare for the next academic year.

For those parents who have no access to personal gadgets or with no network, they must consider visiting the walk-in centres for assistance, to avoid last minute panic.

The DA will continue to monitor the Online Admission Application process as failure to ensure the timeous placing of Grade 1 and 8 will have a negative effect on such learners, and schools which could impact on their educational outcomes.

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19 900 Learners Still Not Placed In Gauteng

New Schools Needed

The DA is highly concerned that into the second week of the school year, 19 913 learners across the province have not been placed in a school, with no concrete assurances in place from Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi as to when they will find themselves in a classroom.

Today, the MEC announced that 12 821 applications had been received through walk-ins at admission centres, of which 7 820 are for Grade 1 and 5 001 for Grade 8.

The learner: teacher ratio in the province is already high, making contact time difficult and focused interventions nearly impossible.

This highlights the department’s failure to rapidly equip the province with desperately needed new schools.

Online Registration System

Whilst the reduction of online placements is commendable, thousands of learners in the second week of the school calendar still await placement.

Parents have been given no assurance or deadlines as to when their children will be placed in school.

MEC Lesufi must communicate with parents and learners daily as to the number of placements made and provide assurance to parents that their children will be able to attend school. This will test the viability of the online registration system.

The DA will be closely monitoring the progress of school admissions in the province and we will continue to conduct oversight visits at schools to inspect the impact of more learners whether it was followed by more resources – such as additional teachers, classrooms, stationery and furniture.

 

Media enquiries:

Khume Ramulifho MPL

DA Gauteng Education Shadow MEC

082 398 7375

[Image source]

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MEC Lesufi Dodges Online Registration Problems

Online Application Process

The Gauteng Department of Education’s online application to register learners for school in 2017 is giving parents a headache.

The DA has been referring many learners to the MEC’s office who have applied on time but haven’t been placed in schools as yet. The DA supported the introduction of online applications believing that they will simplify the admission process.

However, it seems this is not the best solution. Many parents are missing work, as they have been referred to schools and the districts with no joy.

Recently, the department responded to questions sent by the media about parents expressing their dissatisfaction with Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi’s online application process.

Parents’ Demands

Parents of learners residing close to the Overkruin and Montana High schools in Pretoria are unhappy about the MEC not attending to the matter swiftly.

Parents had invited MEC Lesufi to attend their meeting at the weekend so they could seek answers about the online process and express their frustrations in the difficulties experienced in placing their children at school.

The MEC must give assurance to parents on when the department will finalise the placement of learners at schools in Gauteng.

Parents must know which school their children will be placed in so they can purchase correct uniforms, stationery and budget for school fees.

MEC Lesufi must ensure that parents’ demands are met and that learners are able to successfully register at schools in close proximity.

It is a disgrace that the MEC missed an opportunity to engage parents on this matter, especially because the online application process is in its embryonic stage.

The MEC must intervene to help schools to plan for a smooth 2017 academic year. Schools must employ new teachers and procure necessary resources.

 

 

Media enquiries:

Khume Ramulifho MPL

DA Gauteng Education Shadow MEC

082 398 7375

[Image source]