School Enrolment: First Round of Applications for Schools Closes at the End of the Week | Western Cape Government

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School Enrolment: First Round of Applications for Schools Closes at the End of the Week

29 May 2011

Media Statement by Minister of Education, Donald Grant

The deadline for the first round of applications to enrol children in school for 2012 is Friday, 3 June 2011.

Early enrolment of learners for the next school year is a priority for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).

Every hour of every teaching day is important if we are to improve learner outcomes in this province. With the help of all concerned, we can ensure that we achieve a smooth start to 2012.

Enrolling learners as early as possible minimises the disruption at schools at the start of the school year and allows schools and the department to plan ahead for the year ahead. These plans depend on knowing how many learners will be in every school in 2012 well before the end of this year.

The Western Cape has two deadlines for enrolment this year. The first is 3 June and the second round starts on 25 July and ends on 30 September 2011.

The second deadline is for parents who are unable to find places for their children after the first round of applications.

We appeal to parents and guardians to exercise their rights and responsibilities by enrolling their children as soon as possible.

In terms of Section 3(1) of the South African Schools Act (Act 84 of 1994), school attendance is compulsory for all learners from the first school day of the year in which the learner reaches the age of seven years.

It is therefore the responsibility of parents and guardians to enrol children for the following school year if they are entering Grade 1, changing schools (such as entering Grade 8 or 9) or when they have moved to a new geographical area.

The WCED strongly recommends that parents apply to more than one school. Many of these schools already have waiting lists. A name on a waiting list does not necessarily mean a place in the school concerned.

Parents must also provide the following documents when submitting their applications:

  • The child's birth certificate (baptismal certificates are not regarded as proof of birth date).
  • Immunisation card.
  • Transfer card or the last report card for learners who have already been to school.

Schools may enrol learners provisionally if these documents are not available. They will give parents and guardians reasonable time to submit them.

Parents must, in the first instance, deal directly with the school at which they wish to enrol their children. However, should they encounter difficulty in enrolling their children for 2012, they may approach their local education district office for assistance.

The WCED has informed schools that after the first round of applications have ended, they are required to inform parents if the child has not been accepted by 30 June 2011.

This allows parents sufficient time to look for alternative schools to enrol their children in the second round.

Media Enquiries: 

Bronagh Casey
Spokesperson for the Minister of Education, Donald Grant
Cell: 072 724 1422
Tel: 021 467 2377