Gauteng has received 805,688 Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications for the 2027 school year, putting further pressure on the province’s already stretched school capacity.
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile says the province needs to rethink how existing classrooms are used, as demand is concentrated around a number of popular schools.
The department received applications from 357,468 parents and guardians, with 169,396 applications for Grade 1 and 177,481 for Grade 8.
Maile says the province cannot continue expanding only highly sought-after schools while nearby schools have available space. He says Gauteng is considering options such as prefabricated and mobile classrooms, leasing facilities and public-private partnerships to respond to short-term capacity pressures.
Parents with outstanding documents have until 12:00 on 11 September to submit certified copies, particularly proof of home address. Placement offers are expected to start on 15 October via SMS.
Maile says the long-term solution is to improve the quality of public schools across the province so that parents have confidence in choosing schools closer to their homes.
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