To keep pace with technology trends, the Northern Cape Department of Education (NCDOE) has established an online school registration system for 2021 admissions.
The system, which will officially open on 14 September, is in line with the provincial government’s modernisation strategy, according to premier Dr Zamani Saul.
“As this new administration, we articulated a vision of building a modern, growing and successful province. Modern, is a province that keeps pace with technology and it’s at the cutting-edge of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR),” says Saul.
“I also made the undertaking that there will be two immediate and important focus areas for this administration, mainly in the areas of health and education, as these two departments take up the bulk of the provincial budget.”
The NCDOE’s online move isn’t the first time that a provincial education department introduces an online registration system for school admissions.
In 2016, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) unveiled its own online admissions system, which allows parents or guardians to submit online applications for their children going to grades one and eight. At the time, it said it decided to introduce the system to handle large volumes of applications, as well as allow for a transparent and fair school application process for learners starting those grades.
While there have been hiccups along the way, the GDE’s system has managed to keep going.
The Northern Cape premier says changes needed to occur in the health and education departments as they strive to turn the situation around for the benefit of the people, especially the youth.
“The launch of this online admission system is not only at the centre of creating an admission system that will be without glitches, but it also sets the tone and adds to our vision of creating a government that keeps pace with technology.”
Saul expressed hopes that the initiative will also restore dignity in communities and save parents from spending nights queuing to get their children registered at a school.
“We are pleased to announce that the online admission system eliminates possible delays of over 1 000 applications per year. This implies not only a dignified service but also an efficient system and for that, we reassure our society that we are a government that cares about your dignity.”
The system will open from 14 to 30 September, while 199 fully-equipped walk-in centres across all five districts will be available to assist parents without access to the Internet and related services.
The premier appealed to parents to note that the success of their application will be determined by selection criteria that they adopted, adding that the NCDOE will look at whether the learner has a sibling or a parent or guardian working at the school.
They will also take into account if the place of residence of the applicant learner is in the same suburb or adjacent to the school, he says. “If spaces remain after all the above-mentioned applicants have been admitted, other applicants in the order of the position will be considered.”
Saul pointed out that it’s important for parents to make an effort to understand the admission criteria before the system officially opens on 14 September to avoid unnecessary appeals and delays in the system at the beginning of the year.
“I must highlight that the delays and the appeals have a tendency to be disruptive on the ability of the schools to provide effective learning and teaching on the first day of schooling.”
The premier adds that they are planning to have 100% enrolment in the province in three years. “Soon we will launch our enrolment brigades; people that will go door-to-door to ensure that all children of school-going age are at school.”
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