Note to editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to open school applications much earlier in the year to prevent another learner placement crisis. Applications for the 2027 academic year should open by April and remain open until September, giving the department sufficient time to process applications and resolve placement challenges before schools reopen.
By only opening the 2027 application process after June 2026, the department has left itself with a narrow window to process applications, address technical problems and resolve disputes before the start of the new academic year. The crunch we are seeing now, with just two days remaining before the deadline, could have been avoided had the GDE opened applications earlier. Instead, the department now finds itself in a desperate position, effectively having to pressure parents to submit applications within a limited timeframe.
Over the years, many parents have expressed frustration with the lack of clear communication, glitches on the online admissions system and their children being placed in schools that are not their choice. This year seems to be no different, in fact, even worse. The GDE belatedly announced the opening of applications after June 2026.
The DA has consistently urged the department to initiate the application process as early as March. This would provide ample time to deal with all applications, including those submitted late, ensuring that every child is placed before the new academic year begins. Unfortunately, this plea has been ignored, and Gauteng is on the brink of experiencing yet another school admission crisis.
We have also called on the GDE to build more permanent schools in areas facing overwhelming demand. The government’s failure to keep pace with growing demand has worsened overcrowding and increased reliance on temporary classrooms. With only 202 public schools built in 32 years, and R1.452 billion allocated to mobile classrooms and ablution facilities over five years, Gauteng needs a sustainable infrastructure plan that puts learners first and provides conducive learning environments.
The GDE must urgently end this cycle of failed planning and delayed placements. Every child has a constitutional right to education and denying them timely access to the classroom robs them of critical learning time and can seriously affect their academic future.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would address ongoing issues by opening the application process by April and allowing late submissions until September. We would keep walk-in centres operational and deploy teams to assist parents in local shopping malls. Additionally, we would implement a rapid-build programme, inspired by the successful Western Cape model, to deliver safe, quality permanent schools and reduce overcrowding.