Latest news with #GautengMECforEducation
The Citizen
07-08-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Over 600k applications received for Gauteng Grade 1 and 8 placements in 2026
Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane confirmed that the 2026 online admissions application period for grades One and Eight saw more than 600 000 successful applications recorded. This milestone was reached on August 5, under two weeks after the system had opened for applications on July 24. As of 14:00 on Tuesday, the system had recorded 600 936 applications, comprising 254 251 for Grade One, and 346 685 for Grade Eight. Parents and guardians who have not yet applied are encouraged to do so by visiting on any device before the application period closes on August 29. After registering, parents must complete the five-step application process because incomplete applications will not be considered for placement. All applicants must upload certified copies of the required documents online or submit them in person to each selected school within seven days of applying. If uploaded online, documents only need to be submitted once, as all selected schools will be able to view them. The Gauteng Department of Education's (GDE) online admissions system supports document verification by schools. It will prompt schools to verify and update the status of documents, whether uploaded online or physically submitted. Parents will receive SMS notifications once schools acknowledge receipt and verification of documents. Whenever applicants upload new documents, schools will receive automated alerts. The GDE advises parents to apply to a minimum of three and a maximum of five schools to increase the likelihood of successful placement. It is also essential to provide a valid cellphone number, as all communication, including placement offers, will be sent via SMS. It also urges parents to keep all SMS communication regarding their application. Applicants with complete submissions will begin receiving placement offers from October 16. Parents should log in regularly to ensure all the steps are complete. To accommodate parents without access to digital resources, the department has made support available at all Gauteng public schools and through 81 decentralised walk-in centres across the province. The GDE contact centre is available from these times for assistance: • Monday to Thursday: 07:00 to 17:00; • Friday: 07:30 to 16:30; • Saturday: 09:00 to 13:00. How to contact the department: • Call 0800 000 789; • WhatsApp 060 891 0361; • Email [email protected] 'The phenomenal number of applications we've received is a concrete demonstration of the trust parents place in Gauteng's education system. We are grateful to all parents for their co-operation, and we continue to urge all parents to apply online,' said Chiloane.
IOL News
24-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Urgent action needed as Ga-Rankuwa parents protest unsafe school on wetland
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, visits Bachana Mokwena Primary School, which is built on a wetland in Ga-Rankuwa. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers A group of parents in Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, staged a protest outside the YMCA centre, where Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, was launching the 2026 online admissions system, to express their concerns about the construction of a local school on a wetland. The parents, from Bachana Mokwena Primary School, have kept their children home from school since it reopened for the second term on Tuesday due to the unsafe conditions. The classrooms for Grade R and Foundation Phase, which accommodate around 400 learners, are surrounded by underground water, sparking fears that the buildings could collapse at any moment. Chiloane has just kicked off the application process for parents and guardians seeking to enrol their children in Grade 1 and Grade 8 for the 2026 academic year, when the group of parents arrived at the centre and began protesting. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Protesters demanded that Chiloane come out to address their concerns about the school's safety. Chiloane assured the parents that he would visit the school to assess the wetland situation and then address their grievances afterwards. According to Agnes Mashibymi, the school governing body chairperson, children in Grade R and Foundation Phase cannot play outside due to the excessive water surrounding their classrooms. "Parents are anxious, fearing the school buildings could collapse at any moment, and worried that the unhealthy environment could lead to children falling ill," she said. A group of parents in Ga-Rankuwa staged a protest over concerns about the safety of Bachana Mokwena Primary School built on a wetland. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers Mashibymi claimed that parents have approached various departments to voice their concerns about the school's unsafe environment, but their pleas for assistance have been met with indifference. "We were at the Department of Education in Johannesburg yesterday, and the HOD told us that this matter has not reached his office. We decided to take advantage of the MEC's visit to confront him about our issues," she said. Moses Makhubela, one of the parents, lamented that despite escalating the issue to the relevant authorities since 2021, no one appears to be taking it seriously. "It's like they are not taking the lives of our children seriously. I am worried about my child's education, but I can't replace my child if he gets injured at school," he said. After assessing the situation at the school, Chiloane noted that the presence of water is causing the classrooms to deteriorate rapidly. He announced that the department will cordon off the affected classroom area and deploy mobile classrooms to accommodate learners starting next week. Grades 4 and 7 learners have been instructed to report to school on Friday. Chiloane also cautioned parents against closing schools, saying that doing so is against the law. He said the department will send a hydro-geologist to the school next week to assess the situation. Local councillor Violet Phalwane said the core issue is the underground water, and she had previously escalated the matter to the City of Tshwane, which promised to send engineers to the school. "Unfortunately, the learners can't come to school because it is unsafe for them to attend school. My problem is that the problem has affected other learners from other grades," she said.
The Citizen
23-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Apply now: Gauteng online school admissions for Grade 1 and 8 open July 24
Apply now: Gauteng online school admissions for Grade 1 and 8 open July 24 The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed that its 2026 online admissions application system for Grade One and Grade Eight learners will open on Thursday at 08:00. This system is specifically designed for parents and guardians of children entering Grade One or Grade Eight in the 2026 academic year. Parents of children currently in Grade R must also apply for Grade One placement, as there is no automatic progression between the two grades. ALSO READ: GDE permits only compliant food traders in schools Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, urged families to ensure they follow all application steps correctly. 'All parents must create new profiles – no old profiles or login details from previous years will work,' Chiloane said at a media briefing on July 20. After registering at the system will prompt parents to set up a username and password. These credentials are vital for tracking application progress and making changes when necessary. Parents are reminded to accept the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) disclaimer and terms and conditions, and to enter accurate ID numbers and personal details. Once logged in, the application must be completed using the five-step process. 'It is essential to complete each step correctly. Failing to do so will result in an incomplete application and may affect your child's placement,' Chiloane warned. ALSO READ: Food sales in local schools suspended due to cases of food poisoning – GDE Key steps include: • Completing all five application stages • Uploading or submitting required documents within seven days • Providing one reliable cellphone number for SMS verification and updates Chiloane noted that weekly reminders will be sent via SMS and pop-up notifications on the system. Parents are strongly advised not to lose or change their cellphone numbers during this process. If unavoidable, they should contact the department for assistance. • Select at least three and up to five schools • Use the Home Address Within School Feeder Zone option when applying • Choose schools whose feeder zones include their home address 'All schools will remain open for selection throughout the application period,' the department confirmed. Important dates and warnings Application window closes: August 29 at midnight No late applications will be accepted Chiloane also warned parents about fraudulent schemes. 'Bogus operators are scamming parents by promising placements for money. The GDE does not charge any fees for online applications or support. All official assistance is free,' he said. ALSO READ: GDE to announce 2025 online admissions commencement date on June 18 Parents and guardians are encouraged to report any suspicious activity directly to the department. Need help? Contact the GDE: Call: 0800 000 789 WhatsApp: 060 891 0361 Email: [email protected] At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Gauteng online school applications open July 24
Parents and guardians have been reminded that the Gauteng Department of Education's (GDE) 2026 Online Admissions Application period for Grades 1 and 8 will open in the new week. The admission system is only meant for parents and guardians with children going to Grade 1 and/or Grade 8 in 2026. It will go on live on Thursday, July 24, at 8am for Grade 1 and 8 applications. 'Parents with children that are currently in Grade R must also apply online for their children to be admitted to Grade 1 for 2026 in line with Admissions Regulations. There is no automatic placement from Grade R to Grade 1. Applications to all other grades must be made directly at your desired school(s) in your immediate area,' Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane said at a media briefing on Sunday. All parents need to register new profiles, old profiles and previous login details will not work. After registering on the system will prompt parents to create login credentials (username and password). 'Parents must keep these credentials safe as they will use them to access the Online Admissions System, and view and manage their profile and application details. 'Parents must accept the POPI [Protection of Personal Information] disclaimer, enter their correct ID number and details, and remember to read and accept the Terms and Conditions,' Chiloane advised. Once parents have gained access to the system, they must begin with the application process and ensure that they complete the 5 Step Application Process. 'It is essential for parents and guardians to fill in correct and accurate details in every step of the application process as prompted by the system. Documents must be uploaded or submitted within seven days of applying. 'Registering a profile without completing every step of the 5 Step Application Process will result in an incomplete application and the applicant not being considered for placement,' he said. To receive important SMS notifications and updates regarding their application(s), applicants must provide one reliable and correct cellphone number when registering. 'Every step of the application process will be confirmed via SMS for security and verification purposes. There will be weekly pop-up messages on the system and SMS notifications sent to registered applicants as reminders to complete their application. 'SMS notifications will also be sent to parents to acknowledge submission and verification of documents. Therefore, parents are encouraged not to change or lose their cellphone numbers, but in unforeseen cases the department must be contacted for assistance,' the MEC explained. He encouraged parents to use the Home Address Within School Feeder Zone option when applying on the system to see schools with feeder zones that cover their home address. To increase the chances of placement closer to the parent's home address, parents should select schools with feeder zones that cover the parent's home address. When applying, parents are urged to select a minimum of three schools and a maximum of five schools. All schools will remain open and accessible on the system for applications during the application period. Closing date No new applications will be accepted once the application period closes on August 29 at midnight. Parents are advised to not fall for scams that charge a fee to assist with applying online. 'Bogus operators are scamming parents by falsely promising guaranteed placements in exchange for money. All scams and illegal placements must be reported to the GDE. 'The GDE does not charge any fees for assisting parents with the application process — all official support is completely free,' the MEC emphasised. For more information, assistance or comments: • Call 0800 000 789 • WhatsApp 060 891 0361 or • Email: [email protected] – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Gauteng 2026 Grade 1 and 8 online school admissions open July 24
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has announced the 2026 Online Admissions for Grade One and Grade Eight Application Period, which will open on July 24 at 08:00 and close on August 29 at midnight. Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane said it had been 10 years of online admissions. Since its introduction in 2015 in Gauteng, the GDE Online Admissions Application System has successfully assisted hundreds of thousands of parents and guardians in securing a space for their children entering Grade One and Grade Eight at Gauteng public schools. • This system has proven to be much more advanced than the previous manual application approach, which led to thousands of parents and guardians camping outside of certain schools, especially in high-pressure areas, for days when seeking placement. • Accordingly, the system has a 98% placement rate of all complete applications submitted online for 10 consecutive years up to and including the 2025 academic year, when close to 400 000 learners were placed. • For the 2026 academic year, the department intends to continue to ensure that all learners in the Gauteng Province are placed in schools based on reasonable, fair and just admissions criteria. Online admissions system The Online Admissions Application System was created with the intention to achieve the following objectives: • Easy online submission of Grade One and Grade Eight applications by parents and guardians from the comfort of their homes, offices or any one of the Decentralised Admissions Walk-in Centres across the province; • Queue elimination – eliminating the need for parents to wait in long queues at schools during application periods; • Timely placement – all learners are placed within specific timeframes using a sophisticated system; • Capacity-based placement – schools place learners according to their capacity, adhering to infrastructure norms and standards (learners are placed according to the admissions regulations and the school's entry grade capacity, adhering to infrastructure norms and standards); • Efficient management – streamlining of admissions processes across Gauteng; • Provision of accurate statistics for planning and reporting purposes; • Immediate access to data and statistics to facilitate a transparent admissions process; • Centralised database to inform resourcing needs across all functions. The process All parents and guardians in Gauteng with children going to Grade One and/or Grade Eight in the 2026 Academic year must apply online to be admitted to a Gauteng public school. • All applications for Grade One and Grade Eight learners will be processed through the GDE Online Admissions System only. • Parents and guardians applying for Grade One and Grade Eight must all apply during the application period (July 24 to August 29). • Parents must apply within the application period because schools become full and will not be available for late applications. Parents applying late do not have a wide choice of schools. • Entry grade for 2026 admissions is Grade One. • Parents with children who are currently in Grade R must also apply online for their children to be admitted to Grade One (there's no automatic progression to Grade One). • All Grade One applications will be processed and qualified in line with the admissions regulations. • Parents are reminded that the GDE Online Admissions System currently only services applications to Grade One and Grade Eight. • Applications to other grades must be made directly at the school(s) of your choice. 2026 online admissions application period To apply, parents and guardians must first register on: which will go live on July 24 at 08:00 for applications • Parents will not be able to access the system before it goes live on July 24. • All parents are expected to register, as previous login details will no longer be valid. • Only parents with children going to Grade One and/or Grade Eight seeking space at a public school in Gauteng for the 2026 academic year will be able to register and apply online. • Applications will then close on August 29 at midnight. • No new applications will be accepted once the application period has closed. • After registering on the system will prompt parents to create login credentials (username and password), which they will use to access the Online Admissions System to view and manage their application details. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
