Education

1(a)The system exceeded the expectations of project team in terms of performance:

• 292 624 applications have been successfully processed on the system as at 22 August with 132 638 users.
• 60% of the applications were captured by parents themselves.

Challenges experienced:

• Parents had the option to apply on-line at the pilot schools or they could hand in applications to schools where it was then captured by the school.  Contrary to instructions, some schools did not allow for hard copy applications. Some schools have had their own e-system in place for years – therefore, paper-based applications were previously done away with at the school.

The WCED plans to strengthen the message that schools must accept hard copies, via a circular and training that has been scheduled.

• The One Time Pin (OTP) sms security feature response times were very slow and clients waited too long for the sms.  This was due to factors beyond the WCEDs control such as cell phone network dependencies and the service being shared with other WCG departments.

This function has been re-designed and will function without a sms dependency for the 2020 enrolment process.  

Timeframes for training of schools and users was too rushed.

Training is being scheduled for relevant school admission staff October – November 2019.

• Advocacy of the system was not widespread enough due to the fact that it was a limited pilot.

A comprehensive advocacy programme is being scheduled for the enrolment process.

• Access to the internet was a challenge in a few areas, but parents always had the option to hand in hard copies which can be captured on the system.

The WCED will be training library Staff and all WCED district and schools to improve access and opportunities for parents. A programme to get trained interns to assist parents in shopping malls during the admission period has been tabled for approval.

• Some parents did not have a cell phone number or an e-mail address which was a compulsory identifier on the system.

The cell phone number and e-mail address have been delinked as the unique identifier for the parent which will resolve this issue. 

2. What are the plans to curb placement challenges for upcoming years;

The WCED has a User Asset Management Plan (UAMP) to build more schools and classrooms to accommodate learners for the upcoming years – this is dependent on budget and land availability.

• WCED is verifying its current capacity to determine available places at schools.
• Additional efforts include engaging SGBs at schools with very low learner- teacher ratios in high demand areas to increase their intake.

(2)     Yes,

(a) As per a report received on 1^st October 2019, the number of unplaced learners for Gr 1 -12 for 2020 is 28 000.

(b) The process of placement/admissions has not yet been completed. District Teams are assisting parents with placement at schools with accommodation. The Chief Directorate: Physical Resources is also in the process to establish 109 new mobile classrooms, which will provide extra capacity to place learners. The main challenge to the department is insufficient budget to deal with the infrastructure demand.