The MEC for the Department of Education Abraham Vosloo oversees the first registration at a walk in centre at Roodepan Primary School.
Image: Sandi Kwon /Hoo
THE MEC for the Department of Education Abraham Vosloo rated the online admission system in the Northern Cape as being ‘the best in the country”.
“Other provinces can learn from our example,” he said.
Vosloo indicated that the online admission could be accessed on any mobile device, including a laptop, cellphone or computer.
“The process takes about ten minutes.”
Online admissions for the 2026 academic year got off to a smooth start with over 873 online registrations being recorded in the first hour when the system went live on April 14.
Vosloo expects 25,000 new Grade R, 1 and 8 admissions in 2026.
“We encourage parents and guardians to register as early as possible before the May 23 deadline so that provisions can be made to accommodate all pupils. We moved the deadline even earlier this year so that everything will be in place at the start of the new school year, including infrastructure.”
He indicated that mobile classrooms would be brought in where needed.
“We are aiming to do away with late registrations. Parents should not wait until the last minute.”
Vosloo recommended that parents should also register at more than one school, in the event that their first choice was not available.
“Parents should not keep their children at home if there is no space at the first school of choice.”
Vosloo stated that they expected an increase in the number of Grade 1 pupils as well as in the John Taolo Gaetsewe district.
Parents queue to register their children at Roodepan Primary School.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
Many parents queued outside Roodepan Primary to register their children this week, which is one of the 94 walk-in centres in the province to assist parents without internet connectivity or access to technology.
A Grade R parent Devonia Lawrence was the first in the line to register her child at Roodepan Primary school where she arrived at 6.30 am.
Devonia Lawrence was the first parent to register her Grade 1 child at Roodepan Primary School.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
“I know I am guaranteed a spot because I was first in the queue. I believe Roodepan Primary is the best school because I also attended school here,' she said.
There are currently 1,939 foreign nationals accommodated at public schools and 210 at independent schools in the province.
Frances Baard has the largest number of foreign national pupils, amounting to 1,037 at public schools and 111 at private schools.
The spokesperson for the Department of Education said this included Grade 1-12 pupils.
He stated that non-South African citizens had to produce documents upon registration, including a learner study permit, asylum seeker, refugee permit, temporary or permanent residence, proof of address, proof of immunisation and the most recent Grade 7 progress report.
“If they do not obtain these documents from the Department of Home Affairs, their application will appear as incomplete.”
Parents wait in the queue to register their children at Roodepan Primary School.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo
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