Long queues form at GDE’s district office as desperate parents seek placement for children
Grade 1 and 8 parents, who were unable to secure a space for their kids, are now seeking assistance at the department’s offices.
An image of 'back to school' written on a board. Picture: Pexels/Oleksandr P
JOHANNESBURG - Long queues have formed at the Gauteng Education Department’s district office in Johannesburg, as parents desperately seek school placements for their children.
Grade 1 and 8 parents who were unable to secure a space for their kids are now seeking assistance at the department’s offices.
With public schools in the province set to reopen on Wednesday, dozens of parents remain unsure if their children will be placed at their preferred school.
On North Road in Sandton's Morningside suburb, numerous cars are parked along the pavements, reflecting the large number of parents still waiting for their children to be placed in schools.
Frustration is visible on their faces as they stand in long, winding queues, hoping to secure a spot for their children.
One parent, who was at the end of a long line of others, expressed frustration that schools are reopening on Wednesday but his son was yet to be placed.
"We feel disappointed because we did make early online application but we didn’t get correct information about what to do and where to go. So we don’t know what to do. Now we need to stand in long queues while they say we need to do online applications."
Parents receiving assistance at the education department’s district offices will have to wait an additional ten days for a response.