FEDSAS concerned over slow response to enrolments at Gauteng schools

Tomorrow (20 May 2013) is the last day on which parents can enrol their children in schools in Gauteng. After this date, the Gauteng Education Department can place children in any school if they haven't applied for admission to a specific school yet. Only then will late applications be considered.

Although the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS) has taken the provincial education department to court regarding this matter, parents should not wait for the outcome of the legal process, Mr Paul Colditz, CEO of FEDSAS, has warned.

"Enrolments at high schools are especially slow," says Mrs Melanie Buys, provincial manager of FEDSAS in Gauteng. "While some schools have received applications that represent more than 400% of the school's capacity, other high schools are barely at 60%. These schools are now vulnerable because the Gauteng Education Department will place children in schools irrespective of the school's language policy."

This matter has been under the microscope for a while now. Colditz says functioning schools in Gauteng are targeted by the provincial education department.

 "There are not nearly enough functioning public schools in the province. It appears the Department's only solution to this problem is to force functioning schools to accommodate learners from underperforming schools. The schools' language and admissions policies, and the school governing bodies' role in determining these policies, are completely disregarded."

A school's language and admissions policies are both functions of the governing body. Despite this, and against legislation, the Gauteng Education Department promulgated new regulations last year to limit this right of governing bodies.

FEDSAS is urging parents to apply for admission to the schools of their choice urgently. "Parents must fill out an application form at the school. This application form must be handed in at the school before 21 May 2013. The parent will then receive, in writing, a waiting list number."

(FEDSAS is a voluntary association of school governing bodies of public schools and supports quality education in these schools. More than 1500 public schools are already members of FEDSAS).

Statement issued by FEDSAS, May 20 2013

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