Cape Town - Western Cape parents have about one month left to apply to schools for places for their children for the 2017 academic year.
Jessica Shelver, spokeswoman for Education MEC Debbie Schäfer, said that while the department had two deadlines for applications in past years there would be only one deadline – March 11 – this year.
“In the light of the increased demand for places at schools, the Western Cape Education Department trusts that these measures will assist schools and parents in ensuring that learners do not miss valuable teaching and learning time at the start of the school year.”
She said the department had been shocked to see how many parents only tried to enrol their children for the first time on the first day of school this year.
“This is simply irresponsible and negatively impacts their child’s education.”
Shelver said parents would be assisted if they applied after the deadline but cautioned that many popular schools were usually full before the end of the first term.
“The WCED has an obligation to assist all parents with placement of their children.
“This, however, does not mean that we guarantee a place in a school of choice, even if these schools are the closest to their new home.
“Parents are also urged to apply to more than one school to avoid disappointment.”
The department has been distributing posters and pamphlets to schools to communicate the message to enrol early to parents.
The campaign also involves radio advertisements, billboards, displays in taxis and social media.
Parents should be informed of the outcome of their child’s application by June 24 and would be asked to confirm if they would be accepting the place by July 25.
Schools could then start to fill available places.
Cape Argus