Johannesburg - Due to the high influx of children into the Gauteng province each year, the provincial Department of Education wants parents to start registering their children for the 2014 academic year from next week.
The province usually struggles with late registrations due to the influx of pupils from other provinces, which causes administrative challenges at the start of academic year.
At the beginning of this year, the department received about 17 700 late registrations.
Calls for early registration have not been well heeded by parents in the past. However, the department hopes parents will improve cooperation.
Education MEC Barbara Creecy says the early start of applications, from 17 April to 21 May 2013, will enable the department to place learners and assist parents who may not have found space in schools closer to them and create space for every child in need of education.
She said the early start will also allow the department to prepare timetables, recruit teachers and where necessary, arrange nutrition and scholar transport.
"Knowing the number of learners coming to schools in 2014 enables us to prepare early for schools infrastructure, learner and teacher support material and furniture," Creecy told media on Monday.
The MEC urged parents to prepare the necessary documents needed which should be submitted together with birth certificate, proof of residence, transfer card or last report card and study permits for legal immigrants.
For grade1 learners, the child’s immunisation card will also be needed.
"The [Gauteng Department of Education] believes that all children, no matter their background, have the right to quality basic education in the sector," said Creecy.
In areas where there is no space, department has over the years supplied existing schools with prefabricated classrooms and extra teachers.
To address the pressure at schools, Creecy said this year they hoped to open 13 new schools and they were also looking at reopening old schools that where closed due to the low number of learners.
"A further nine schools are under construction in preparation for the 2014 schooling year. Our transport scholar transport is now transporting 68 000 learners compared to 65 000 last year.
“We have transported 500 new growth posts this year to prevent bigger class sizes in public schools as a results of increased demand."
Creecy advised parents to insists on and be provided with a waiting list number upon submissions of the completed application form with the relevant documents.
The waiting list, she said, would indicate if the child is placed on waiting list A (for parents within a feeder area of a school) or waiting list B (parents outside of a feeder area of a school).
"We urge parents who find themselves on a waiting list to make sure they also apply to alternative schools to avoid disappointment."
Successful applicants would be informed by schools from August.
The department will make provision for late registration where a family has an unforeseen need for a place in Gauteng schools.
"But parents must remember that they won't be guaranteed to find a space at late stage in their preferred school. Therefore, it is important that any family who intends moving to Gauteng in 2014, applies between 17 April and 21 May," said Creecy. - SAnews.gov.za
