The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) admission of a child to Grade 1 or Grade 8 in a public school is through an online application portal. Parents/guardians with children going to Grade 1 and/or Grade 8 in 2025 are reminded to apply.
Applications can be done using any computer device, or smartphone or by visiting one of the 80 decentralized walk-in centers or any public school for assistance.
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Gauteng Grade 1 and 8 Admission Application
It is important to note the following when applying to Grade 1 and/or Grade 8:
- The system will use your ID Number as your username,
- Create a Password that will be easy to remember and save it to access the system and your application,
- Apply to a school within a Feeder Zone that covers your Home Address,
- Addresses closest to the school within the Feeder Zone,
- Provide ONE RELIABLE CELLPHONE NUMBER when registering parental details on the system,
- All One Time Passwords (OTP) and SMS with information about the application will be sent to the cellphone number provided,
- Upload or submit certified copies of required documents to schools for verification within 7 days of making the application,
- Offers of placement will be sent to the parent’s cellphone number provided
- The Offer of Placement must be accepted within 7 days of receipt.
- Placement is prioritized for applicants with Home
What is a School Feeder Zone?
A School Feeder Zone is a demarcated residential area and geographical location from which a school admits learners. To find School Feeder Zones that cover their home address, applicants are advised to apply to schools using Home Addresses within the School Feeder Zone. All schools with Feeder Zones that cover your home address will appear.
GDE Admission Criteria
Parents have an option of applying to a Maximum of 5 schools using the following Admission Criteria (also known as Application Options on the system):
- The applicant learner’s place of residence is closest to the school within the feeder zone,
- SIBLING: The applicant learner has a sibling at the school you are applying to OR PREVIOUS SCHOOL: The school where the applicant learner is currently in Grade 7 is close to the school you are applying to,
- The place of employment of at least one of the applicant learner’s parents is within the feeder zone of the school,
- The applicant learner’s place of residence is within a 30-kilometer radius of the school, or
- The applicant learner’s place of residence is beyond a 30-kilometer radius of the school
Documents Required for GDE Admission and Placement
To complete your online application procedures, the applicant must upload/submit certified copies of the following documents to the schools applied to within 7 days.
- Parent ID/Passport/Refugee Permit/Asylum Seeker Permit/Permanent Residence Permit/Study Permit,
- Child SA Birth Certificate
- Proof-of-Home Address (municipal account not older than 3 months, in the name of the parent/legal lease agreement showing that the applicant will be living at that address in the year of admissions, signed by the landlord and tenant, proof of rent payment and statement addresses to the tenant at the same physical address),
- Proof of Work Address,
- Latest School Report,
- Clinic/Vaccination/Immunization Card.
GDE Online Admission Portal
Apply online for GDE Grade 1 and/or Grade 8 to secure space for your child’s admission at a Gauteng public school. To apply;
- Go to the Gauteng Education Portal
- Navigate to Online Admission
- Click on Apply and complete all details
- Register parent/guardian details
You will receive an SMS with Username and Password
- Proceed to Register address details,
- Register learner details,
- Apply to a school.
After completing, you will receive an SMS with a waiting list number,
- Upload/submit certified copies of the following documents to the schools applied to within 7 days.
Did You Know
How to check GDE Admissions Application Status
NB: During the Placement Period, you will receive an Offer of Placement at a school with available space.
