Department of Education Extranet

UPDATE ON THE ADMISSIONS OF LEARNERS

The Northern Cape Department of Education is finalising the placement of all learners ahead of the start of the 2021 school academic year. To date, the Department issued 34 020 placement offers to parents. A total of 30 333 parents accepted the offer for placement, whilst 3 687 offers are still pending.

The Department has indicated that if a parent/legal fails to either accept or decline the placement offer within 7 days, we will take the responsibility of placing the child. It is important to note that many parents applied to more than one schools and the current pending offers are occupying available school spaces.

In addition to this, we are fully aware that a number of parents submitted appeals to the Office of the MEC, whilst they have pending offers for placement. The Department will advise the Office of the MEC not to consider these appeals as these learners were offered placement at a school they have applied to.

Another matter that is delaying the placement of learners is the incomplete applications on the system. Parents have applied, but did not upload all the required documentation (Id, proof of residence, clinic card, report card). These applications are incomplete and therefore the learners cannot be placed. Our District offices and schools are trying their utmost best to get hold of these parents.

The Online Admission System was open for late admissions from 11-18 January 2021. During this period, the Department received 11 155 late admission applications for this school academic year. These applications will be finalised in due course and will be treated on a first come first serve basis.

To date, the Office of the MEC received a total of 5 250 appeals from parents who have received an unsuccessful placement sms. The appeals will only be considered based on the admission criteria as set out by the Department and parents will be informed on the outcome of their Appeal before schools reopen. The admission policy of a public school is determined by the governing body of the school in terms of Section 5(5) of the South African Schools Act,1996 (No.84 of 1996). The Department issued a Circular to outline the admission process, including the criteria to all public schools.

We are in the final stages to conclude all outstanding placements and we thank all parents who have remained patient and provided the necessary cooperation in this regard. We have learned valuable lessons with the new Online Admissions System and we will further improve the system where necessary. The Department will ensure that all learners of compulsory school going age will be placed at a public school, prior to the reopening of schools for learners on the 15th of February 2021.

End.