By Lebone Roah Mosima
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said on Wednesday that 8.5% (33,650) of applications for the 2026 placement of Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners through its Online Admissions System were submitted during the late application period from December 17, 2025, to January 30, 2026.
The department said that about 484 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners had remained unplaced in Ekurhuleni, specifically in Tembisa and Kempton Park, but that by Tuesday, March 3, all remaining learners were successfully placed at alternative schools in their respective areas.
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“In numbers, the total figure of Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners placed for the 2026 academic year through Gauteng’s Online Admissions system is 392,224,” the department said.
“The main application period, which ran from July 24 to August 5, 2025, accounts for most of these placements.”
The department said schools will implement catch-up programmes to help learners recover lost curriculum time.
GDE MEC Matome Chiloane said the online admissions system remains a key tool in transforming access to education.
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“We are pleased to have successfully placed all applicants who applied online,” Chiloane said.
“However, we are determined to improve the system to ease some of the frustrations encountered during this process.”
