The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) confirmed last week that 98,7% of the Grade 1 and 8 learners who applied on time have been placed at schools for next year’s school year by the end of November.
In total it is 119 110 learners, while placement is still in progress for 1 568 (1.3%) learners. According to the Western Cape MEC for education, David Maynier, 636 of these learners who still needs to be placed are late applications, that was received after the applications for admissions window closed in April. He added that the department received late applications up until the week before last.
“We understand that this is a stressful and anxious period for these parents. As a department, we are asking parents to work with us as we try to accommodate their children as soon as possible. We are exploring all available options to find a place for these learners for the start of the school year.
“Importantly, we are waiting for final progression and promotion data from schools, so that we can finalise their admission lists and place learners in classes with additional space. Schools historically hold onto some spaces to plan for the possibility of learners repeating the grade, thus still requiring a seat in that class. If the number of learners repeating the grade is lower than planned, this will free up additional spaces.”
Maynier reiterated that department officials and schools are working under immense pressure to make sure that all learners are place before the new school year kicks off.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in our effort to place every learner, and we will continue to work to finalise placement for all remaining learners.”
According to Maynier the department has done everything in its power to encourage parents to apply online while the on-time applications window was still open between 13 March and 14 April this year.
“We provided pop-up sites across the province for parents to be assisted if they could not apply online. And our district offices have been accepting walk in applications since the online applications closed. Despite this, we know that many thousands of learners will arrive in the first term next year needing placement.
“We do not know where they will seek placement, or what their grades, languages, ages or subject choices will be. So planning our resource allocation for these extremely late applicants in advance is very difficult, and their parents will have to wait some time before their child is placed.”
Maynier says they will place every learner for whom an application is received going forward. However, he makes it clear that all Western Cape schools are full. Maynier, therefore, plead that parents who submit new late applications remain patient, as their children may not be placed before the end of the first term.
Parents can call the Cape Winelands Education District on 023 348 4601 should they need advice or assistance on admissions. Alternatively they can visit the admissions website on https://admissions.westerncape.gov.za/admissions/login to track the status.
