By Kaya 959 Reporter
More than 100 000 Grade 8 learner admission applications were successfully captured via the Gauteng Department of Education’s 2022 Online Admissions Application system.
The system officially opened on Tuesday last week.
By Wednesday, applications surpassed the 50 000 mark, with more than 52 000 successful applications reached on the second day of the 2022 Online Admissions in Gauteng.
On Friday, the department recorded 104 504 successful applications.
“Accordingly, this milestone is indicative of the hard work that has been put in by the GDE staff who are handling an average of 5 000 calls a day at the GDE Contact and Walk-in centres across the province. Our gratitude must also go to our parents and guardians whose patience and understanding has made this process smoother,” said department spokesperson, Steve Mabona.
He said applications began smoothly on Tuesday with some parents having to overcome a few challenges, including incorrect ID number/home address – even after parents/guardians had verified their personal details at schools.
Some parents also raised concerns about not receiving assistance with the verification of details from schools.
“Indeed, our back-office support – including the Districts and schools – has been extremely busy providing assistance to parents and guardians so that they are better able to navigate the system,” he said.
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Phase 2 applications
Mabona encouraged parents who have not yet verified their information to communicate with their children’s schools to check if schools had updated the details.
If this does not prove to be helpful; parents are then encouraged to visit their District Offices and Walk-in centres or call the GDE’s Contact Centre 0800 000 789.
Mabona said it is important to reiterate that the 2022 online admissions are taking place through a two-phase approach to improve administrative efficiency.
He explained that Phase 1 applications, which started on 10 August 2021 and will end on 3 September 2021, are for parents and guardians whose children are currently in Grade 7 at a public school in Gauteng and will be going to Grade 8 in 2022.
“Phase 2 applications will begin on 13 September 2021 and will focus on parents and guardians whose children will be going to Grade 1 or Grade 8 in 2022 but are not in a public school in Gauteng, this will end on 8 October 2021,” he said.
