Gauteng Education Dept receives a surge in entry-grade applications

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Education authorities have received a surge in applications for entry-grade school pupils for the 2025 academic year.

There are more than 160,000 applications for grade one learners and more than 170,000 for grade eight pupils.

This increase is likely to put pressure on the province's schools.

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But the acting Gauteng Premier, Lebogang Maile, believes the school placement progress for next year looks promising.

Maile says the Education Department will inspect schools for readiness before the start of the first term on the 15th of January.

"The department has to date, provided 3799 classrooms to schools, increasing the capacity by 142,255. In addition, nine satellite schools have been created, increased capacity at eight secondary schools and one primary school by 3,899."