The state of learner admission recorded across all nine provinces is impressive. However, the remaining number of unplaced learners is putting the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) and districts to task as they are working tirelessly towards completing placements as a matter of urgency. Collective provincial reports revealed that of 9,505,964 learners who applied for placements, a total of 9,487,618 were ultimately placed.
According to the DBE, the application for learner admission was opened from April to September 2022. However, many parents failed to honour the closing date and as such, the learner admission process was affected across all education districts in South Africa. Access to basic education remains a constitutional right; the DBE has therefore urged PEDs to expedite efforts in addressing learner admissions. In some instances, provinces are resorting to mobile classrooms whilst others have identified community halls to accommodate the unplaced learners and to alleviate pressure on overcrowded classes. Overcrowding in schools is a contributing factor to the delays in the learner admission process.
Mr James Ndlebe, Director for Education Management and Governance Development (EMGD), said that the provinces are working closely with schools and parents to ensure that learner placement process are resolved as a matter of urgency. “The common challenges encountered by provinces on this issue are: relocation of people from rural to metro areas; people moving after 30 September when the admission period has closed; late applications; and parents insisting on their school of choice. The remedial action steps taken by most provinces include: requesting parents to provide proof of relocation documents to discourage them from leaving underperforming schools to better performing schools; opting for providing mobile classrooms whilst waiting for permanent solutions to the identifiable school infrastructure challenges; and considering a curriculum recovery strategy for learners who were placed later than anticipated. It must be noted that the PEDs conduct regular meetings with schools to ensure that all unplaced learners are finally assisted”.
Mr Ndlebe further outlined reasons which led to a prolonged learner admission process: “the learner admission process requires a holistic government approach. In some instances, the sector observes increased applications by parents from independent schools due to financial distress, where parents are not able to pay fees in independent schools and are now returning to public schools, which contributes to learner placement challenges. In addition, the sector faces an increased number of families becoming guardians of their siblings’ children after they have either passed away or lost their jobs. Other factors include incomplete applications; submission of fraudulent proof of residence; delays in accepting placement and unnecessary appeals to MECs; and the submigration of parents across provinces to schools in high pressure over-subscribed areas.”
The DBE and PEDs are monitoring the situation very closely and will ensure that no learner should be academically excluded due to learner admission challenges.