Parents urged to act fast to enrol children

NORTHERN Cape parents have been urged to enrol their children timeously during the school registration period which opens on Monday next week.

Department of Education spokesman, Geoffrey van der Merwe, said registrations for the 2018 academic year would open on May 8 and run until May 31 2017.

Van der Merwe urged parents to act fast to avoid disappointment.

“Last year we received a large number of late applications from parents, which contributed to a number of learners only being placed at a school in January. This is not an ideal as we want to commence with schooling on the first day of school in January 2018. Education is a right, and parents have the responsibility to ensure that every child of school-going age attends school and has access to education,” he said.

He added that the schools would inform parents about the status of their applications.

“Parents or guardians will be informed in writing by the school principal from August 7 until August 11 regarding the outcome of the admission application. Parents and guardians must then inform the school principal in writing within seven days after receipt of the notification whether they accept or decline the placement at the school.

“In the event of an appeal, it must be submitted to the Office of the MEC with the necessary documentation,” Van der Merwe said.

Parents who fail to enrol their children will have to deal with the consequences of their late application.

“Late applications for admissions will be accommodated where places exist, but not necessarily at the learners’ school of choice. Learners whose parents have been transferred to the Province must apply directly to a school. No special treatment will be given to transferred learners,” he said.

He also advised parents to take along the necessary documentation. “The documents required for admission include a certified copy of the learner’s official birth certificate or identity document, recent school report card, the immunisation card of the learner, a certified copy of a parent’s identity document, proof of residence, a parent’s legal relationship with the learner and a study permit if the parent is a non-South African citizen,” Van der Merwe said.