300 000 online applications for 2020 done and dusted!

Almost 300,000 online applications for 2020 are done and dusted!

This is according to the Gauteng Department of Education.

Following a week-long postponement following concerns raised by
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, Governing Bodies and Stakeholders, the system went live on Monday.

Parents were given options to choose from five schools considering:

  • Home and work addresses (the school’s proximity to these places)
  • Race
  • Language
  • Whether or not their siblings attend the school.

Lesufi did, however, express that race was not a major factor for applications.

“We don’t use race to place people, we use race just to know how many people have applied that are black, African, so they said remove that part it must be information that is used. We have accepted that as well, reluctantly,” said Lesufi.

As parents rushed to secure space for their children, the system experienced technical glitches with many parents taking to Twitter expressing that they had not received the correct reference numbers.

The department has acknowledged this and is addressing the issue.

Applications for grade 1 and 8 will close July 22 midnight.