Spokesperson for the Department of Education in the Eastern Cape, Mali Mtima, confirmed that the department is on a mission to introduce an Online Public-School Admission Programme with the aim of ending the long queues that are normally seen in the four hotspot districts in January and ensuring that all learners are getting tuition.
Mtima said that the Heads of Education Department’s Committee (HEDCOM) meetings of April 11, 2017, and August 15, 2017, resolved that all Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) must consider the implementation of the online learner admissions system.
“The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE), in line with that resolution, has embarked on the implementation of the Online Learner Admissions System for entry-level grades such as Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8. This programme will be piloted with four districts at the beginning of the project, namely, Buffalo City Metropolitan, OR Tambo Inland, Joe Gqabi and Nelson Mandela Bay District.
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“The aim of the system is to end the long queues that are normally seen in the four hotspot districts in January, but also to ensure that all learners are getting tuition,” said Mtima.
He added that training sessions are currently taking place in the four piloting districts to ensure that the districts and school managers responsible for learner admissions are able to use the system.
“The ECDoE has also created walk-in centres with trained officials to assist the parents who are struggling to connect with the system. On the system’s part, the super admin will be making sure on the back end that the system is always up and running, making sure it is accessible. However, the programme is a pilot programme; as such, the department, in collaboration with the service provider, will receive feedback on the areas of strength and weakness during the implementation and address those as recommended.”
According to Mtima, as soon as the training sessions are over and the MEC for Education, Fundile Gade, launches the system, it will be rolled out into the four piloting districts.
The application process will entail the following:
- Go to https://ecschoolsadmissions.org.za
- The parent will then see the Terms and Conditions, and they have to accept them.
- The system will then allow the parent to register, thus creating a profile.
- After creation of the profile, the parent can continue with the child’s application.
- The system will then allow documents to be uploaded individually, e.g. birth certificate, ID copies, etc.
- The system will show a Submit button.
- A reference number will then be generated, and a message will be sent to the parent’s email address, via short message service (SMS) or WhatsApp, to indicate that the application has been successful.
“The walk-in centres are designed to assist parents who are not familiar with technology. The toll-free number of the ECDoE Call Centre: 080 1212570. Before he (Gade) launches the system, there will be toll-free centres in each of the four piloting districts; added to that are physical walk-in centres with personnel to assist such parents.
“The parents have been made aware through consultations with the District Education Forum and Labour. Advocacy has also been conducted through the department’s social media.”
