WCED assures legislature of successful 2026 placement of learners at schools

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has assured the Standing Committee on Education in the provincial legislature that all learners will be offered placement at schools in the province next year.

The department was answering questions about its annual report and school applications for 2026 in the provincial legislature on Tuesday.

One of the questions posed to the province's head of education Brian Walters related to the department's schools admission policy.

"We put a bold programme, we try and increase the teaching components. At the same time, you have to appreciate we're a large system, grade R has been made compulsory, there's ECD [Early Childhood Development] that is added. However, all cases that have been brought to our attention, the child will be offered a place."

However, Walters said the WCED cannot guarantee all transfer applications will be successful.

"we have to go with the issue of what we are calling essential transfers where maybe a parent was living in Khayelitsha but they now got a job in Simonstown and the family moves to Simonstown and then in Simonstown we have to find a place for the child."

Walters said parents need to show legitimate reasons for their children to be transferred to a different school.