Done with the Department of Education

24 November 2019

Gauteng Education Reduces number of unplaced learners

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has reduced the number of unplaced learners from 34 553 on 3 November 2019 to 9 618 on 23 November 2019 which translates to 3.4%. Approximately, 160 appeals have been received and are being processed.

Working closely and collaboratively with our schools, especially those in high pressure areas, we managed to increase capacity to accommodate more unplaced learners, consequently, most of the high-pressure schools are full.

We have identified schools where additional classroom capacity is required to allow for additional placements. Procurement processes are underway to assist with provisioning of mobile classrooms to the identified schools.

To accelerate placements, we commenced with the placement process on 23 September 2019, the System auto populated the placement lists based on the following criteria:

• Home Address is closest to the school in the Feeder Zone
• Sibling at the school / Previous school close to the school in the Feeder Zone
• Work address within the school’s Feeder Zone

Our second phase was for the system to auto populate to 100% capacity to fill spaces created by offers accepted at another school (All 3 options)

Thirdly, parents that did not accept offers of placement forfeited unconfirmed offers. New offers were issued to the next in line on the placement list. To facilitate further placement, schools with high number of applicants were persuaded and agreed to increase capacity to accommodate more learners.

The negotiations with school principals to increase capacity was based on, spaces available in the existing classrooms to fill them to capacity, converting unused spaces (rooms) to classrooms and using available school grounds to erect a mobile classroom.

Fourthly, we focused on schools which didn’t reach capacity during placement. The system auto populated offers with applications within 30 kms and beyond 30 kms; transfers were processed to schools with available spaces for parents that applied to one school that was filled.

The last process regarding unplaced learners from full schools were matched with schools with available space in feeder zones that cover the address of the applicant.

It became evident that 160 057 (60%) applied only to one school, and this is further hindering the placement process, because we need to link the learner within the Feeder Zone/s. Of this number 18 223 had applied to schools outside their feeder zone.

It is important to correct the distorted assertions made by some non-progressive lobby groups. The Department has never expressed any intention to take Afrikaans speaking learners to township schools. The expressed intention is to introduce English and Afrikaans as the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) in the under-subscribed township schools. Such schools will be assisted to acquire the necessary educators that have qualifications and proficiency to teach in the desired LoLT.

“We would like to reiterate that time is too precious to waste on negative organisations who do not have a desire for transformation, social cohesion and non-racialism. Such people aim to further oppress the down-trodden and to reduce the positive gains that were achieved since the dawn of our democracy” Said MEC Lesufi.

We are aware that some schools wanted to place applicants using the old Admission Regulations that referred to date and time.

We are also aware that there are some schools that are sending messages to parents, inciting them to use these non-progressive lobby groups to ‘put pressure’ on the department to accept children, irrespective of adherence to Admissions Regulations. We earnestly caution and call upon all schools not to participate in such irresponsible and unnecessary ill-practices. They must be reminded that there is nothing like an exclusive public ordinary school, in fact, all public ordinary schools belong to all people.

The Department will continue to engage single medium schools with low learner enrolments to merge to make schools available to accommodate applicants who need to be taught in a different language.

As of today, 24 November 2019, we have placed 272 741 (96.4%) of 282 787 applicants who have submitted documents. This reflects an increase of 4 569 placements in a few days. In addition, 521 placement offers were released, but not accepted by parents. The remaining 9 618 (Grade 1: 3 210 and Grade 8: 6 408) applicants are still to receive placement offers and we are working tirelessly to place them by 30 November 2019 deadline.

Our priority is to work with Grade 1 parents to place all these learners.

To update and engage parents in some identified areas, I will be visiting communities as following:

• Tshwane South District, Tuesday, 26 November, Laerskool Uitsig 46 Yelanda St, The Reeds, Centurion; 17:00

• Ekurhuleni East District, Wednesday, 27 November, Hoërskool Marais Viljoen, Cradock Street, Alberante, Alberton, 17:00

Please note that, our officials will be available at these venues to assist parents with specific cases/concerns accordingly.

“We are certainly working meticulously, ensuring that necessary resources are availed to accommodate all the unplaced learners by 30 November 2019. Parents are therefore urged to accept offers issued as these are based on availability of space. Our main objective is ensuring that no learner is without a school. We wish to assure parents, that their children will be offered placement” said MEC Lesufi.

For more information, contact the Gauteng Department of Education’s Spokesperson, Steve Mabona on 072 574 3860.

Issued by the Gauteng Department of Education

Communicated on the 25.10.2019

Been trying to sort since July 2019 -

I called MEC on his mobile, messaged as well as emailed his Shadow.

https://krugersdorpnews.co.za/394552/new-west-rand-child-protection-hotline-launched/

New West Rand child protection hotline launched - Krugersdorp News “The hotline was born out of the need for a child-friendly communication and assistance system,” he added, pointing out that the existing hotline numbers weren’t particularly productive, according to his sources.

“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.”

On Monday, Billy didn't have his homework
And when the teacher asked him why
He said, "Because a monster ripped it up,
After I told him a lie."

"You know monsters don't exist,
And if you don't turn in your homework
No recess you will get

On Tuesday, Billy had a stomach ache
And when the teacher asked him why
He said, "A monster took away my dinner,
even my ice cream."

"Billy, I've told you once before,
Monsters are not real.
You'll have to wait till lunchtime
Before you get a meal."

On Wednesday, Billy had a bandage,
Which covered his right eye.
When the teacher asked him how it happened,
This was his reply:

"A monster was running after me
When I ran into the door:"
"Billy please," the teacher said,
"I don't want to hear any more."

On Thursday, Billy refused to sit down,
And when the teacher asked him why,
Billy said, "A monster whipped my bottom,
Because I started to cry,"

"Billy, said the teacher,
" this is getting out of hand,
And if you continue with these stories,
In the corner you will stand."

On Friday, Billy didn't come to school,
And when the teacher found out why,
She said a little prayer to God
In hopes Billy would survive.

For a monster had beaten Billy
and threatened him with a knife.
Now Billy lay in a hospital bed,
Fighting for his life.

So teachers please remember,
That monsters are for real.
Listen closely to kids stories,
A wounded heart you may heal

Author Unknown...
The Pain To Children is All Too Real
I found this and felt I had to share it!

Dear Education System,

This is what you are doing to our children. My 5 year old is made to feel bad that he is a regular boy.

He isn’t always good at sitting still. He loves to bounce and talk to friends. He loves to learn by doing. He’s a typical boy who could play outside all day and not get tired.

Sadly you take that away more and more each year. You’re dead set on increasing testing numbers by forcing the “child” out of our kids. At much younger ages they are becoming zombies.

Sit, be still, learn this earlier, test well or we will be forced to have an intervention but don’t expect our help quickly because the red tape takes months. Talk too much during P.E. and you lose it. Don’t turn your homework in and sit silently at lunch while you complete the assignment.

If he cannot be silent and still my child is a distraction. If you cannot be silent and still you will be punished. If you cannot be silent and still we will take away the time you do have to NOT be silent and still.

When will you wake up and realize you are detrimentally hurting our children by no longer allowing them to just be children??

Because personally, I’m tired of holding my baby while he cries thinking he’s failing as a kindergartner.

.

From July to date -

Sharing some of my anxiety for my Son as a Mother today.

No matter how I tried to calm his anxiety for him before sending him in to write his English paper2 and later his Business Paper.

Thank you GDE – even after reports from Grade 3 and having both Scribe and Reader to now only having a reader – we are now in Grade 10 (all reports done by Qualified Education Phycologists) – declined – appealed declined.

Just some of my sons report that was sent to the GDE – who are clearly more qualified than Educational Phycologists.

Report that was appealed and sent in was not only from Educational Phycologists- My Sons Teachers assisted with appeal and wrote reports as well to try and assist my son.

*Note* my son is 17 see age equivalents in screenshots.

From Report:
CONCLUSION
Kyle is a polite and co-operative child who has a significant auditory processing deficit which is well documented and has made school difficult for him. He repeated grades 1 and 2, was in remedial schooling for all of his primary education and in a learning assisted environment until this year when he was mainstreamed into grade 10. He was first diagnosed with dyslexia in primary school. He battles with reading and reading speed, and his written work is riddled with spelling errors. He has been previously diagnosed with an expressive language delay and his spelling is a barrier to literacy. He writes slowly. Previously Kyle has received both academic support and examination concessions. He was given reader and a scribe and a spelling concession.

Good Night Parents, thinking of all of you.

Try and sleep sound.

Tomorrow we will try and conquer these matters again.

Thoughts?

06 November 2019

GDE REDUCES UNPLACED LEARNERS TO 29 862

The Gauteng Department Education (GDE) has reduced the number of unplaced learners from 34 358 to 29 862. This demonstrate a steady increase of learners currently placed to 250 309, which represents 88.51% of total applications received. Of the number placed, 134 680 were placed in Grade 1 and 115 629 in Grade 8. Total applications received is 310 350.

Our officials are committed and work tirelessly to place these remaining 29 862 or 10.52% of unplaced learners by 30 November 2019.

It is important to remind the public that, a total of 27 563 parents have not submitted or do not have documents. We will announce on how they will be assisted in due course. We will currently, not be able to accommodate those parents who didn’t apply, until we place all outstanding learners.

The Department is administering the 2020 Admission process under the new Regulations and Feeder Zones Policy. A parent can apply at any school BUT placement depends ultimately on available space and capacity of the school.

Capacity of the school is a function of the size of the school and the number of current Grades 1 and 8 learners that have been retained or do not pass to the higher grades.

Furthermore, placement in terms of the revised regulations follows this order of priority:

1. Applicants with home address closest to the school within the feeder zone

2. If the school still has space, applicants with siblings are placed. If there is no space, siblings are placed at a school with available space within the feeder zone.

3. After Criteria 1 and 2 are exhausted, applicant with work address within the feeder zone are placed, if the school still has space. If not, the learners will be placed where there is space available.

4. Still, subject to space availability, learners whose parents live within the 30km radius of school, are placed.

5. Finally, learners whose parents live beyond the 30km radius of the school are placed, if the school has space.

A parent that does not prefer the offer of placement should lodge an objection with the District. Objection forms are forms are available online – www.gdeadmissions.gov.za or at the District office.

Should the parent remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the Objection, the parent may complete an Appeal Form available online –www.gdeadmissions.gov.za. and e-mail to Admissions.Hotline..gov.za. Parents are urged to follow this process to address concerns.

A parent that still has admission related queries can contact the Department through the following channels:

a. Phone the Call Centre on 0800 000 789.
b. Send an email to [email protected]
c. Visit the nearest district admission centre.

For more information, contact the Gauteng Department of Education’s Spokesperson, Steve Mabona on 072 574 3860.

Issued by the Gauteng Department of Education

www.gdeadmissions.gov.za