With the assistance of print and other media, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) advocated for the timeous enrolment of learners for the 2023 school year throughout 2022.
According to the Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the department, sadly there are still parents who fail to apply timeously and do so only at the start of the school year.
“This makes it difficult for the WCED to plan appropriately in terms of accommodation and the provisioning of the required learner resource materials and furniture and equipment,” she explained. “While we try to predict, as far as possible, growth in certain areas, it is not always possible to calculate exact numbers.”
The WCED is, however, working hard to deliver 842 new classrooms, with at least 26 000 places, for the 2023 school year, as announced on 22 November 2022.
Hammond said the planning of these classrooms is based largely on demand in certain communities, based on information obtained from data during the 2023 enrolment process.
“Hence, this is why timeous enrolment is so important,” she pointed out.
The spokesperson added there were some valid reasons for late enrolment, such as unexpected migration from province to province, or another town or suburb due to work opportunities, promotion or transfer.
“Those parents who have not yet applied must contact their relevant district office as soon as possible, so we can place their child on our placement list.
“Contact information can be found on the WCED website https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/admissions-officials.”
Last year tremendous progress were made in placing learners for the 2023 school year in the Western Cape.
As announced by Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier last month, on Tuesday 20 December 111 616, or 99%, Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners were placed for the 2023 school year, and are in the process of placing 680 or 1%, of the Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners for the 2023 school year.
He said officials and schools had done a phenomenal job under extreme pressure to make sure they found a place for every child.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in our effort to place every learner,” he said, “and we will continue to work to finalise placement for all remaining learner.
“However, the education system is still under immense pressure.
“Our schools are full, and we are going to struggle to place learners whose parents only apply on arrival in January.
“This is why it is so important for communities to support us in delivering the new schools and classrooms we will need, and we must all work together to prioritise the delivery of school infrastructure for our children.”
