Gauteng receives over 800,000 online applications for Grade 1 and 8 placements

The Gauteng Education Department has received more than 805,000 applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placement in the 2027 academic year. 
 
The figure represents more than 346,000 individual learners seeking placement. 
 
The department says the focus now shifts from applications to verifying documents and preparing to place learners.  
 
The application period closed at midnight on Friday after opening on 5 August. 

The education department says the high number of applications also reveals where demand for public schools is growing and where capacity will have to be reviewed. 
 
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile said placement offers will not be made immediately. 
 
“The conclusion of the application period does not mean that placement offers will be issued immediately. Before placement commences, submitted documents must be verified for authenticity. Once schools complete the verification process, applications are submitted to the relevant district offices for quality assurance to ensure that outcomes are consistent with the application options and documents submitted.”

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