Over the past few weeks, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has been inundated with brand-new, extremely late school applications.
It has received new, extremely late applications for 3 391 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners since 1 January 2023 for the 2023 school year.
The department has already placed 2 066 of these applicants, and placement is in progress for 1 325 of the Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners, for whom applications were received extremely late.
These applications pose a great challenge for the department, as they are arriving daily in an unpredictable fashion.
The WCED has asked for patience as it makes progress in placing these extremely late applicants.
They have arrived without warning, and the department says it cannot predict where and when they will arrive. This has made planning its resource allocation in advance extremely difficult.
It will take some time to redirect resources to cater for these learners, and this is currently underway.
The department also printed resource packs for late applicants and provided these to the district offices where the new applicants arrive. Online support links have been sent to parents for additional reading and home learning, while placement is finalised.
Officials and schools are performing apparent miracles under extreme pressure to make sure they find a place for every child, leaving no stone unturned.
It will continue to work to finalise placement for all remaining learners.
The WCED understands the placement process can cause frustration for parents, and asks for patience while also assuring them it is doing everything within its power to find places for learners as quickly as possible.
