Over 600,000 Applications Received for 2026 Gauteng Grade 1 and 8 Admissions

Parents urged to complete 5-step process before 29 August deadline

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has hit a significant milestone in the 2026 academic year admissions cycle, receiving over 600,000 online applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements within just two weeks of opening the system.

Speaking on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane confirmed that a total of 600,936 applications had been received by 2 PM that day. Of these, 254,251 were for Grade 1 and 346,685 for Grade 8, signaling intense demand for placement in the province’s public schools.

Application Deadline: 29 August 2025

Parents and guardians who have not yet applied are strongly urged to do so before the application window closes on 29 August 2025. Applications can be submitted via the official GDE Online Admissions portal.

Chiloane emphasized that incomplete applications will not be considered for placement, urging parents to follow the full 5-step application process and to upload or submit all required documents within seven days of applying.

“After registering, parents must complete the 5-Step Application Process. All applicants must upload certified copies of required documents or hand them in at each selected school,” said Chiloane.

New System Upgrades to Manage High Demand

Over the years, parents have raised concerns about technical glitches and long delays when using the system. In response, the department has upgraded the GDE Online Admissions System to better manage large volumes and streamline document verification.

The system now alerts schools when applicants upload documents and allows schools to confirm receipt and verification directly. Parents will receive SMS notifications for every verification update.

Apply to Multiple Schools, Keep Communication

To boost placement chances, Chiloane advises parents to apply to at least three and no more than five schools. A valid cellphone number is essential, as all placement offers and status updates will be sent via SMS.

“It is critical for parents to apply to multiple schools and to keep all SMS communications for reference,” he added.

Placement Offers Begin on 16 October

Parents with complete applications will begin receiving placement offers from 16 October 2025. They are encouraged to log into the system regularly to ensure they haven’t missed any important steps.

For families without internet access, assistance is available at all Gauteng public schools and across 81 decentralised Walk-In Centres in the province.

{Source: IOL}

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