By Levy Masiteng
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has announced that late applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 will open on 17 December 2025.
This follows MEC Matome Chiloane’s update on the latest progress regarding Grade 1 and Grade 8 learner placements for the 2026 academic year through the Gauteng Online Admissions system.
The announcement, made on Thursday at King Edward VII School in Johannesburg, provided an update on placement progress, indicating that as of 3 December, 88.7% of learners had been placed.
“317 988 out of 358 574 Grade 1 & Grade 8 unique applicants have been placed,” Chiloane said.
According to the department, 160 262 learners have been placed in Grade 1, while 157 726 have been placed in Grade 8.
However, 40 586 learners remain unplaced, with some experiencing delays due to late submission of required documents, falsified proof of home addresses, and requests to reverse acceptance of placement offers.
“The placement process is slowed by parents/guardians who do not accept offers as final and hold onto spaces,” said Chiloane.
“We urge parents to accept placement offers to ensure that all learners are placed in schools.”
The department has identified schools that have reached full capacity and is working to secure alternative placements for unplaced learners.
“About seven primary schools with capacity ranging from 160 – 300, received between 1000 to 1387 applications to process and about 140 Secondary Schools received between 1000 and 3 288 applications to process. These schools have reached capacity,” Chiloane said.
“Over five years, we approved the construction of 3 799 additional self-built classrooms, providing approximately 250 000 spaces and currently, schools are in the process of building 1 745 self-built classrooms to accommodate at least 61 075 learners.”
The GDE also announced that the provincial matric results ceremony will take place on 13 January 2026 at the BCX Multi-Function Room in Centurion, in partnership with the Telkom Foundation.
“To Gauteng’s extraordinary Matric Class of 2025, you have demonstrated remarkable resilience, discipline, and courage throughout your NSC journey,” said Chiloane.
“You now stand at the end of a 12-year path that began with your very first steps into a classroom. The same commitment you have shown over the past 12 years should guide you as you build the lives you envision.”
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