Although the Gauteng Department of Education has reassured parents that children starting grade 1 and 8 in 2023 will be admitted, there's still some problems.Parents are unhappy that their children are either being placed at schools that are further from home or they are placed in schools that the parents never applied for.This will be an extra cost on parents who cannot afford to pay for transport. However, they will be forced to remain in this situation because their options are limited and space is running out.

ONLINE SYSTEM FRUSTRATING

Some parents have complained that they are not tech savvy and logging into the department's system was frustrating. Surprise Baloyi said she is frustrated because her child was placed way too far from home. "I'm frustrated. I don't think I'll will enjoy the festive season. I want to appeal at this point... I can't even think clearly. I Iive in Soshanguve ext 5 and the school is in Garankuwa." Luvuyo Schomane said she applied only in one school because she had her reasons. " I avoided applying in other schools because I can't afford transport money, now an application is being processed for a school in Noordgesig yet I stay in Orlando East."

SCHOOLS IN DEMAND

The department's spokesman Steve Mabona said they are aware that there are schools that are in demand and they will address the issue before the end of the year. He said the department will give those schools mobile classrooms so they can accommodate the influx of their new learners. "Before schools re-open the mobile classrooms will be delivered. We've also been experiencing problems on our side of parents who submit incomplete documents, especially proof of residence making it difficult for us to process their applications."Mabona said.

LATE APPLICATIONS 

They will  reopen the system from 20 December 2022 until 20 January 2023 for late applications to accommodate parents who were unable to apply. He urged  parents who applied during the application period to  not re-apply. "It is important to note that applications made during the late application period will be placed at schools with available spaces. Schools that have reached full capacity will not be available for parents applying late and late applicants will be allowed to submit only one application, which will result in immediate placement."Mabona said upon submitting a late application, applicants must submit all documents physically at the school(s) they applied to from 9 January 2023 to finalise their placement.