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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has announced that it has already received over 600,000 online applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements in public schools for the 2026 academic year. The announcement was made on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, by Gauteng MEC for Education, Mr. Matome Chiloane, who praised parents for embracing the online application system.
According to the MEC, a total of 600,936 applications had been submitted through the GDE Online Admissions platform as of 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The applications include 254,251 for Grade 1 and 346,685 for Grade 8. The platform, which opened for the 2026 intake on July 24, has been active for just two weeks, yet it has already surpassed previous records in a short space of time.
This year’s high number of applications signals continued pressure on the education system in Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous province. Over the years, the GDE online admission system has faced criticism from parents over technical issues, delays, and limited placement options. However, the department stated that several upgrades have been made to the system to improve functionality, manage traffic, and provide real-time updates to both schools and applicants.
In a detailed statement, Mr. Chiloane encouraged parents and guardians who have not yet applied to complete their applications before the closing date of August 29, 2025. He explained that the process requires parents to register and complete a five-step application. Any incomplete application will not be considered for placement.
He further stressed the importance of submitting all required documents either online or directly to the selected schools. “Applicants must upload certified copies of documents online or deliver them in person to each school they apply to within seven days. If uploaded online, the documents only need to be submitted once, as all schools listed by the parent will have access to them,” the MEC said.
The GDE’s system now includes automated prompts that notify schools to verify submitted documents. Parents will also receive SMS alerts confirming receipt and verification of documents. Schools, on their end, will get instant notifications when new documents are added by applicants.
The department advised parents to apply to a minimum of three and a maximum of five schools to increase their children’s chances of successful placement. According to the MEC, this will help the department and parents manage the high demand for space in popular schools, especially in high-pressure urban areas like Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Ekurhuleni.
“Parents must ensure they use a valid cellphone number when applying. All important messages, including placement offers, will be sent via SMS. Please keep all SMS messages related to your application safe,” Mr. Chiloane said.
The department said it plans to begin releasing placement offers from October 16, 2025. Parents who submitted complete applications are encouraged to log into the system regularly to track progress and respond to offers promptly.
To assist those without internet access or digital skills, the department has made support available in every Gauteng public school and through 81 decentralised walk-in centres across the province. These centres are fully equipped to guide parents through the application process.
Mr. Chiloane reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensuring every child in Gauteng has access to quality education. He urged parents to act fast to avoid last-minute issues and thanked them for their cooperation so far. “We understand the importance of placing children in schools close to their homes and will continue to work hard to make the process seamless for everyone,” he concluded.
The high number of applications so far is a clear sign that parents are becoming more familiar with digital solutions. It also reflects the increasing population and demand for basic education in Gauteng, particularly in new urban developments.
