Gauteng online school admissions system under investigation

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) confirms it will investigate the Gauteng online school admissions system.

With less than a week till the first term ends, the SAHRC says its provincial office is inundated with complaints from parents whose children are yet to be placed in school.

SAHRC INVESTIGATES GAUTENG ONLINE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS SYSTEM

“The Commission has continued to monitor the admission programme and has noted large numbers of unplaced learners in various districts within Gauteng Province”, the statement read.

The SAHRC says it will ensure the right to basic education is upheld. In the same breath, it says it will support efforts to place all learners while not over crowding classrooms.

In its investigation, the Commission says it will look into the following matters:

• Gauteng Government’s infringement on children’s rights basic education
• Reason for persistent challenges for unplaced learners and insufficient spaces in schools
• Whether the MEC for Education of Gauteg Government failed in their duties to ensure sufficient space in the provinces schools
• The online admission system
• Whether schools are utilizing their maximum capabilities in terms of learner-teacher ratio.
• Number of schools closed verses newly built schools since 2019.
• Obligation by the department to find space for the learners

SUBMIT NAMES OF UNPLACED LEARNERS

The Commission calls on parents and guardians of unplaced learners and members of the public to make their submissions before 22 March, ‘to determine the full extent of the problem’.

The following details are to be sent via email to schooladmissions@sahrc.org.za:

• Name of parents/guardians:
• Contact details of parents/guardians as well as an alternative number.
• Residential address
• Applicable GDBE District office
• Date of application and schools applied to
• Response received from GDBE