Parents left in limbo as GDE fails to disclose walk-in centres for online school registration

With three days left before the opening of the 2026 Grade 1 and 8 online admission applications, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has yet to make public the list of 81 decentralised walk-in centres to assist parents without internet connectivity to register the children for school admission. This lack of transparency is creating unnecessary anxiety for parents who need this information to prepare in advance.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng reiterates its call for the GDE to urgently publish the complete list of decentralised walk-in centres, including operating times, and to ensure these facilities are operational from the beginning of the application process. Parents must have certainty and access to assistance from the start, not after the system collapses due to pressure.

Last year's application process was marred by system failures and confusion, resulting in delays for parents seeking to secure placements for their children.

As a result, the DA Gauteng earlier this year called on the GDE to start the process as early as May to break the cycle of chaos. The department has not heeded our previous warnings, as it has once again failed to provide essential logistical information on time.

The DA Gauteng has submitted official questions to the department requesting the full list of decentralised walk-in centres and their exact locations. To date, we have received no response from MEC Matome Chiloane. This reflects a disturbing indifference to our children's educational prospects and the secretive way Premier Panyaza Lesufi-led government operates.

We urge all parents and guardians to apply early, ensure they have all the necessary documents ready to upload, and not use falsified residential addresses when applying, as this disadvantages other applicants who reside closer to their school of choice.

We encourage parents to report any difficulties they encounter with the system or at walk-in centres. We will monitor these issues closely and compile a comprehensive profile to hold the department accountable.

The 2025 situation, where over 6 377 learners were placed between January 15 and 30, must not be repeated. This delay caused thousands of learners to miss weeks of learning due to the department's inefficiency.

This week, the MEC announced that the late application process will only open in January, raising the real risk of a repeat, or worse, scenario than last year.

A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would provide information about decentralised centres and their locations, ensuring that all centres are ready to operate from day one so that every learner is timely placed in their school of choice.

The DA Gauteng will continue to exert pressure on the GDE and its MEC to ensure transparency and accountability in school admissions, so that no learner is deprived of their constitutional right to access quality education.

Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education