With the Grade 1 and 8 late application deadline, closing on Thursday, January 30 (2025), thousands of Gauteng parents are racing against time to secure placements for their children.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has already placed 325,858 learners for the 2025 academic year but warns that unregistered families risk missing out entirely. To mitigate, the department has also established satellite schools to provide additional spaces in high-pressure areas, accommodating over 4,417 learners.
Matome Chiloane, Gauteng Education MEC stressed: “Parents who have not yet secured space for their child in Grade 1 or Grade 8 at a Gauteng public school are encouraged to visit the GDE’s website and apply before the deadline.”
DA’s stark warning
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has echoed the urgency but criticised the province’s reactive approach. DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL, stated: “The GDE’s reliance on mobile classrooms is a clear example of a failure to effectively plan for future growth and demand. Schools are set to start on the 15th of January. We cannot allow a situation where any learner is left sitting out of school for several weeks due to a lack of placement.”
The party urged parents to use GDE walk-in centres for last-minute assistance, citing chronic systemic issues:
- Infrastructure delays: “The GDE and Gauteng Department of Infrastructure must ensure delayed school projects are completed urgently.”
- Communication gaps: “Many parents have expressed frustration with the lack of clear communication and glitches in the online admissions system.”
- Digital divide: “Deploying teams to local shopping malls would help bridge access gaps.”
Next steps for parents
1. Apply online immediately: Visit [www.gdeadmissions.gov.za](https://www.gdeadmissions.gov.za).
2. Visit walk-in centres: For technical support or document submission, parents in all affected Gauteng schools are urged to visit walk-in centres set up by the Department to fast-track their concerns.
3. Monitor placements: The DA vows to continue to monitor the placement process closely to ensure every learner is placed before the 2025 academic year.”
