It is the responsibility of the Department of Education to ensure that every child of school going-age is in school on the first day of the 2024 school year. We can only achieve this goal if parents enrol their children as early as 15 May – 30 September 2023. The administration of learner admissions is the responsibility of the school management. However, the Department has a Constitutional obligation to make sure that all children get access to education. Guided by the Constitution of South Africa, in terms of section 29 which guarantees the right of everyone to basic education and the South African Schools Act (SASA) which requires ordinary public schools to admit learners without unfairly discriminating them in any way. The Department will make sure that every learner is admitted next year. FIRST TIME ADMISSION If a child is going to school for the first time or moving to a new school, registration forms must be collected from the school: Nearest to the parent’s home o Where other siblings are attending o Nearest to parent’s work address o School of choice AGE OF LEARNER In terms of the SASA, as amended, children may be registered in terms of the following age requirements: o Grade R: 4 years turning 5 years old on or before 30 June 2024 o Grade 1: 5 years turning 6 years old on or before 30 June 2024 DOCUMENTS REQUIRED To register, parents must take the following documents with them: o Birth certificate or acceptable proof of birth date o Immunization card o Transfer card o Last report card If one is not a South African citizen, the following documents are important: o Study/work permit o Temporary or permanent residence permit from the South African Department of Home affairs o Evidence to show that there is application for permission to stay in RSA ADMISSIONS REGISTER The principal of a public school must keep a register of admissions. All admissions of learners to the school must be recorded in the admissions register that will be submitted to the department. RECOURSE IF ADMISSION IS DECLINED Parents have the right to know why admission of their children is declined. Any formal complaint from parents whose children have not been admitted can be lodged through the nearest circuit offices. We are making an appeal to our principals to accommodate learners in line with the carrying capacity of their schools; this appeal is made in line with the department’s efforts in trying to curb overcrowding and learners under trees. In the admission of learners, principals must always take into account the physical and human resource the school can offer. Anything to the contrary must be sanctioned by the Department. The Department will monitor the learner admissions process very closely to ensure that the rights of learners are protected at all times. “Education is a pre-condition for development”