Learner Enrollment for 2011: Limited Space Available in Some of Our Schools

Earlier this year, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) launched a drive to persuade parents to register their children early for school next year, if their children are starting primary or high school, or if they are changing schools in 2011.

The overall enrolment programme took place in two phases; the first round of applications took place between April and June, with parents being notified by July if their child was accepted.

The second round took place between July and September, with parents being notified on their child's enrollment in the middle of October.

In order to prepare for the year ahead, the WCED requested that districts submit a report on their respective schools enrollments for 2011. The reports established where there is high learner enrolment, and where we will possibly encounter high demand for late enrolments in 2011.

The report reveals that there has been a pro-active response by parents in the province to enroll their children early, with many of the schools reporting back that they have completed their enrolment for 2011.

In the Western Cape, we are determined to ensure that our Province is the most prepared for the 2011 school year; therefore we would like to thank these parents as it allows us to properly prepare these schools for the year ahead. We can now begin to prepare school timetables, organise teaching and learning materials, and check the necessary infrastructure requirements.

However, the WCED is still receiving calls on a daily basis from parents requesting assistance on admissions. Therefore, we again appeal to parents to enroll their children as soon as possible, as we are determined to ensure that quality teaching and learning starts on the very first day of the new school year.

Parents must also understand that we cannot guarantee that they will get their child placed at their first school of choice, however, we will ensure that all children are placed in a school and will assist parents who are battling to find places for their children so that we can complete, as far as possible, registrations by the end of November.

Parents should first approach schools directly to register their children. If they encounter any difficulties they can telephone the department's enrolment helpline for assistance, if necessary, on 0800-200-506, and we will work with parents and schools to identify places.

Metro Central schools have reported that seventy-four percent (74%) of their schools are already full, followed by the Cape Winelands who have reported that sixty-nine percent (69%) of their schools have completed their enrolment.

Metro North has only five percent (5%) of their schools reporting that they are filled to capacity, with the Atlantis area reporting that forty percent (40%) of their schools are already full.

(Please note that these figures only include schools that have reported that they are one hundred percent (100%) full, and therefore do not count schools that are ninety-eight percent (98%) full, therefore it does not necessarily mean that there are plenty of spaces available. There is still limited space available in some of these schools).

The Department does expect some late enrolments by learners, especially those that have migrated from other provinces, and have therefore identified areas where there might be high levels of demand. These include, Kuilsrivier, Mfuleni, Hout Bay, Delft, Du Noon, Wallacedene, Plettenberg Bay, Mosselbay and George.

Most of these areas have schools that serve rapidly growing communities. Therefore, officials will be prepared on the first day of the school year to work with schools to find places for these children and to finalise late registrations. They will also help schools to finalise timetables and to resolve staffing, administrative and security issues, where necessary.

The Department is expecting eighty-three thousand (83 000) learners to qualify for enrolment in Grade one (1) next year.