Gauteng Online School Applications Open Soon But Parents Say Support Remains Elusive

Gauteng online school registrations open soon — but is the system ready this time?

With just days to go before Gauteng’s online school registration portal goes live, many parents are already bracing themselves for what has become an annual digital scramble.

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) will open its 2025 online admissions platform for Grades 1 and 8 next Thursday, 24 July. Parents will have until 29 August to submit their children’s applications — along with the necessary documents — through the system.

But as the countdown begins, concerns about the platform’s reliability, support access, and communication have resurfaced.

A Tech Driven Process But Not Everyone’s Connected

While the GDE has long positioned its online admissions process as a tool to streamline placements and reduce queues at schools, critics say that reality hasn’t matched the promise — especially for families without stable internet access.

“The system is great in theory,” says Gauteng DA shadow MEC for Education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos, “but many parents have faced major frustrations with system glitches and insufficient support — especially in communities where access to the internet is limited or unreliable.”

Social media has already begun buzzing with worried parents seeking guidance. On Facebook parenting groups across Gauteng, posts asking “where are the walk-in centres this year?” and “anyone know what to do if the site crashes?” have started popping up.

Missing Info on Walk In Centres Leaves Parents Guessing

To support families without access to technology, the GDE typically sets up decentralised walk-in centres across the province — staffed facilities where parents can get help with online applications.

But this year, the DA says the department has failed to communicate the most basic information: where these 81 walk-in centres will actually be.

“We’ve submitted questions to the department requesting clarity on the locations of the 81 centres,” says Dos Santos, “but to date, we’ve received no answers. Nor have we seen any visible communication or advertising telling parents where to go. This lack of transparency is deeply frustrating and undermines parents’ ability to get the help they need.”

Parents Deserve Better: Will 2025 be Any Different?

Over the past few years, the online school registration process has been plagued by recurring problems: crashing websites, long queues at walk-in centres, and parents left in the dark about placement timelines.

For some, especially those trying to secure spots at oversubscribed schools, it’s a source of serious anxiety.

Education experts say that while digitising the application process is a step in the right direction, it only works if the system is both functional and inclusive — meaning tech support must be widely available and clearly communicated.

As one mother commented on X : “Every year it’s a panic. They need to treat this like an election — we need help desks in malls, WhatsApp bots, even SMS support. Parents shouldn’t be doing guesswork.”

What Parents Need to do Now

With just over a week to go before applications open, parents are encouraged to:

• Prepare all required documents, including ID copies, birth certificates, proof of residence and immunisation cards.

• Familiarise themselves with the online portal on the GDE website ahead of time.

• Stay tuned to local radio stations and the department’s official platforms for announcements — especially about walk-in centre locations.

• Join local WhatsApp or Facebook parent groups, which often share real-time updates and help navigate system quirks.

The Bottom Line

The success of the Gauteng online school application process hinges not just on technology, but on communication and accessibility. With the window opening on 24 July, families are hoping that this year’s system runs more smoothly — and that support will be visible, available, and reliable.

For now, many are holding their breath.

Source:Sabc News 

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