The Gauteng Department of Education has completed the placement of all Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners who applied online for the 2026 academic year, including 484 previously unplaced pupils in Ekurhuleni’s Tembisa and Kempton Park areas.

Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane said the department had secured placements for all remaining applicants by Tuesday evening, 3 March. In total, 392,224 learners were placed through the online admissions system, with 33,650 applications submitted during the late application period from December 2025 to January 2026.

Chiloane thanked parents and guardians for their patience while placements were finalised and said schools would implement catch-up plans to recover any lost curriculum time.

“The online admissions system remains a key transformation tool to make all schools accessible,” he said. The MEC also announced plans to build 18 new schools in high-pressure areas to expand capacity.

The Gauteng Department of Education has completed the placement of all Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners who applied online for the 2026 academic year, including 484 previously unplaced pupils in Ekurhuleni’s Tembisa and Kempton Park areas.

Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane said the department had secured placements for all remaining applicants by Tuesday evening, 3 March. In total, 392,224 learners were placed through the online admissions system, with 33,650 applications submitted during the late application period from December 2025 to January 2026.

Chiloane thanked parents and guardians for their patience while placements were finalised and said schools would implement catch-up plans to recover any lost curriculum time.

“The online admissions system remains a key transformation tool to make all schools accessible,” he said. The MEC also announced plans to build 18 new schools in high-pressure areas to expand capacity.