Gauteng Education Department's electronic admissions process irregular, says FEDSAS
08 April 2015
Electronically applying for school admission is merely an effort by the Gauteng Education Department to take control of the placement of learners. This goes against the Schools' Act, which determines that school governing bodies are responsible for schools' admissions policy.
Against this background the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS) has sent an urgent letter to the Head of Education in Gauteng, Mr Boy Ngobeni, to demand that these irregular requirements be retracted. Ngobeni has been requested to react before 13:00 on Friday, 10 April 2015.
"The manner in which this procedure was announced creates suspicion. The Department made this announcement during the school holiday, with 13 April 2015 as the first day of registrations for 2016. The e-platform in its current form does not allow for schools' admissions and language policy, which of course goes against the Schools' Act," says Mr Paul Colditz, CEO of FEDSAS.
The current e-platform only takes into account two criteria for placement, namely whether a parent or guardian lives or works within the school's catchment area and whether an applicant already has a brother or sister in the same school.
"Language is pertinently ignored, which creates the impression that the Gauteng Education Department is using this registration procedure to change Afrikaans single-medium schools into parallel-medium schools," says Mrs Melanie Buys, Gauteng Manager of FEDSAS.
FEDSAS is also concerned about the early deadline and relatively short period available for applications for 2016. "FEDSAS is requesting parents to apply at the school of their choice as a matter of urgency, and to avoid applying electronically. Applications via the central e-platform will lead to schools having no record of applications," says Colditz.
Parents should not confuse re-registration with re-admission. Learners who are already in a specific school cannot be refused re-registration. "According to the amended regulations for admissions of 2012 (paragraph 11) Grade R is excluded from the re-registration process. This goes against the Schools' Act, which includes Grade R," says Buys.
In 2013, FEDSAS was successful with a court case in which large sections of the admissions regulations were scrapped. Despite a number of court decisions in this regard, the Gauteng Education Department is still interfering with schools' admissions policy.
"We want to make it very clear that FEDSAS is in favour of cooperating with education role-players. Any effort to improve processes is welcomed. However, it should be within the statutory framework and should not complicated matters further. FEDSAS' main aim remains quality education and steps will be taken where it appears that this constitutional right is threatened," says Colditz.
(FEDSAS is a voluntary association of school governing bodies of public schools and supports quality education in these schools. More than 1800 public schools are already members of FEDSAS).
Statement issued by Mr Paul Colditz, CEO: FEDSAS and Mrs Melanie Buys, Gauteng Manager: FEDSAS, April 8 2015
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