Western Cape Education Department Finalises Enrolment for 2012

With only three weeks left before the end of the school year, the WCED is wrapping up in their preparations for the 2012 school year.

This includes helping schools to complete timetables, resolving staffing, administrative and security issues and finalising enrolment lists.

The completion of enrolments for the following school year is imperative, as this determines the number of staff that will be allocated to the particular school, the amount of furniture and stationery required and the number of learning materials such as textbooks.

This year's "Early Enrolment Campaign" has been a success, with high enrolment figures being captured throughout the province.

The greatest demand for enrolment has been in the metro region, with some areas reporting that they are full to capacity. They include areas such as Brakenfell, Kuilsrivier, Durbanville, Delft, Swellendam, Rondebosch, Mitchell's Plain and the City Bowl.

While enrolment has been high in the Eden/Karoo, Overberg and West Coast districts, there is still capacity in some of the schools.

We are expecting around 95 000 learners to qualify for enrolment in Grade 1 next year and approximately 80 000 in Grade 8.

Next year, the WCED is opening 11 new schools in the province. Enrolment in these schools has been positive, with greater demand in the four Delft schools and, recently, the Northpine Technical High School.

The department does expect some late enrolments next year, especially involving learners that have migrated from other provinces or have enrolled late for practical reasons, such as family relocation.

We have identified areas where there might be high levels of demand. These include Mitchell's Plain, Nyanga, Phillipi, Delft, Kuilsrivier, Langa, Hanover Park, Manenberg and Oudtshoorn.

There are still, however, parents residing in the province and who have children entering Grade 1 or Grade 8, but who have not yet enrolled them for 2012. I strongly urge them to do so now. Given that many of our schools are already full, enrolment at this stage may require some assistance by the WCED district offices.

Parents MUST NOT leave enrolment to the first day of the new school year. This places a massive amount of pressure on our officials and distracts our schools from their task at hand - which is an on-time start to teaching and learning. It is simply unfair for parents who have failed in their responsibility to enroll their children in good time to lay the blame on the WCED and its officials at the start of the new school year.

Parents must also realise that late enrolment almost always limits options and choices.

Parents are again reminded that they need to provide the following documents when submitting their applications:

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