For many Western Cape parents, the excitement of receiving school placement outcomes has instead turned into frustration, confusion and anxiety, with some learners receiving multiple offers while others have not secured a single placement.
The concerns come as the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) works through approximately 167,000 on-time applications for Grades R, 1 and 8. According to Bronagh Hammond, spokesperson for the WCED, more than 46,000 learners received two or more placement offers during the first round of admissions and, once parents confirm their preferred schools by 15 June, more than 64,000 places are expected to become available for other learners still awaiting placement.
The admissions process has come under increased scrutiny from parents who say they are struggling to understand how placements are allocated, particularly when some learners receive multiple offers while others receive none at all.
One Cape Town parent said his son who will go to grade 8, was unsuccessful at all eight high schools he applied to despite applications being submitted on the first day the admissions portal opened.
What left the family even more bewildered was feedback from one of the schools, which cited the learner as being “underage”.
The explanation came as a shock to the family, who say age had never been raised as a concern throughout the child’s primary school years.
“My son felt disappointed that not one positive result came back. He had tears in his eyes, feeling that he is not good enough to be accepted in a high school,” the parent said.
“I had to sit down with him and explain that it is just a temporary setback, and that we will keep looking to get him into a school.
“My wife and I felt disappointed that even though we applied on the same day the admission portal opened, it seems that the WCED application process is still flawed.
“The underage story shocked me, so my question is what age must your child be to be accepted in high school?”
When approached for comment, Claremont High School advised that the parent should contact the WCED, as there may have been a glitch in the admissions system
Hammond said the parent would need to enquire directly with the school regarding the reason the application was marked as “underage”.
The learner’s story is not unique.
Another parent, who asked not to be named, said she was struggling to understand why her daughter had not been accepted at a primary school attended by both of her siblings.
“They ask you if you have a sibling or family member at the school. She has two there, but she is not placed,” the parent said.
“The school is literally around the corner from us, so proximity is also not the issue.
“What does this tell us about the system? You apply on time because the WCED tells you to, then they can’t get back to you on time.”
The concerns have reignited questions around how learner placements are determined and whether the current admissions system is adequately serving families.
Hammond stressed that admissions are not determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
“All applications received during the on-time application period are considered at the same time. Parents apply on the WCED admissions system, but School Governing Bodies consider applications based on their own admission policies, which differ from school to school,” she said.
She explained that while the WCED provides a central application platform to ensure fairness and consistency, individual schools ultimately determine the outcome of applications according to their approved admissions policies.
Addressing concerns about multiple offers, Hammond said schools are unable to see which other schools a parent has applied to.
“Schools determine the outcome of admissions applications based on their admissions policies. The WCED does not determine the outcome of applications to a school,” she said.
Hammond acknowledged that the initial release of results often creates anxiety among parents whose children have not yet secured placement.
“We understand how disappointing this can be. However, this is only the beginning of the placement process,” she said.
She explained that many places remain temporarily occupied by learners holding multiple offers and that substantial movement is expected in the coming weeks as parents confirm their preferred schools.
“The admissions process does not end with the initial release of results. There is significant movement in placements over the days and weeks that follow. Many learners who are initially unsuccessful do receive placement shortly afterwards,” Hammond said.
The department also highlighted the intense competition for places at some of the province’s most sought-after schools. Hammond noted that Claremont High School received more than 5,000 applications for approximately 140 available places, while Spine Road High School and Mondale High School each received more than 3,500 applications.
The Educators and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (EUSA) believes the ongoing school admissions challenges in the Western Cape continue to expose the deep inequalities that remain entrenched within the education system.
According to the union, learners from communities where schools are situated should be given first priority for placement. EUSA argued that it is unacceptable for children living within a school’s immediate catchment area to remain unplaced while learners from outside the area, and in some cases outside the province, are accommodated.
The union has also called for stronger controls within the admissions process to ensure that every learner receives at least one placement offer before multiple offers are issued to other applicants.
EUSA said the annual scramble for school places is symptomatic of broader inequalities in the education sector. The union noted that former Model C schools are often able to maintain lower learner numbers and smaller class sizes, while schools in working-class and disadvantaged communities are left to absorb growing numbers of learners, frequently beyond their intended capacity.
This, EUSA said, results in overcrowded classrooms, increased pressure on educators and a decline in teaching and learning conditions.
“We fought against gutter education, but still today we have to fight the ghosts of apartheid within our communities. Until all schools are treated equally and serve equally, the fight will never cease,” the union chairperson for the Western Cape, Andre De Bruyn said.
Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
iol.co.za
