The Department of Basic Education (DBE), through its Education Management and Governance Development Directorate, is currently gauging the state of system readiness to improve the effective administration of learner admission ahead of the 2027 school calendar. The DBE has confirmed that thorough engagement sessions are currently underway across all nine provinces to ensure seamless and successful learner admission processes as anticipated. 

According to Mr Thomas Baloyi, Deputy Chief Education Specialist for the Education Management and Governance Development Directorate, several Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) have already conducted advocacy within school communities to address queries relating to learner admission in schools: “The placement of learners in schools has already commenced in the Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces since the two PEDs started with their 2027 admission processes in March and April 2026 respectively. The remaining seven provinces are currently receiving applications and will commence with placement in August and September 2026. I would like to remind the applicants on a few requirements to consider when applying for school admissions. For instance, in Grades R and 1, requirements for admission include an immunisation clinic card; certified ID copies of parents or guardians; birth certificates of learners; and proof of home address. Admission for Grade 8 requires the latest Grade 7 report, either the first and second term report; the birth certificate of the learner; proof of home address; and certified ID copies of parents or guardians. The submission of proof of home address is critical in the sense that it plays a pivotal role in determining school proximity where a learner should be admitted. Parents without the required admission documents are encouraged to seek guidance from nearby schools for assistance”.

He added that “the Basic Education Sector has made progress in improving learner admission over the past years with the realisation of 99% access to basic education. However, overcrowding in schools requires urgent intervention.  In response to this matter, the DBE developed a school capacity regulation aimed at regulating learner numbers in line with school capacity. A call for public comment on the regulation was issued on 5 August 2025, and comments are being processed for promulgation. Provinces, through the assistance of their education districts, conduct school capacity audits annually to ensure that schools are in a better position to admit learners successfully”.