The Department of Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe, says if pupils are not registered with any school across the province by Wednesday 30 September, their applications will be deemed as late. He says a total number of 32 075 applications, including Grade R, 1, and 8, has been captured with only a day to go. Van der Merwe says the department has noticed that most parents applied to only one school, which may pose challenges in terms of the placement when the application is regarded as unsuccessful.

“We are likely to see a sharp increase in the number of applications over the next day, as parents will be rushing to complete their 2021 learner admission applications. The Online Admission System has proven to be both efficient and effective, whilst handling the volume of applications very well,” he adds.

Van der Merwe says parents are encouraged to apply to more than one school because the Online Admission System allows for a learner to apply to a maximum of five schools for the 2021 school academic year. He indicates that all applications received after Wednesday will be considered based on the availability of space at various schools.

The department gave examples of what may happen if the registration is considered successful or unsuccessful.

How the Northern Cape Department of Education will deem your application successful or unsuccessful;

•Applicant learner(s) already has (have) a sibling attending the school of application (sibling means a learner who has at least one parent who is also the parent of the learner already attending that school and he or she resides in the same household as that child already attending the school);

•If applicant learner(s) do have parent/guardian working (as an employee) at the school applied to;  

•If the place of residence of the applicant learner(s) is in the same suburb with the school applied to;

•If the place of residence (residential suburb) of the applicant learner(s) is adjacent (immediately next) to the suburbs of the school applied to;

•If places remain after all the above-mentioned applicants have been offered places, other applicants, in the order of the position of the applicant should be recommended.

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