Gauteng GDE Online Admissions Application 2026 for Grade 1 and 8

Call for Application – Gauteng GDE Online Admissions Application 2026 for Grade 1 and 8. The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) wishes to announce the 2026 Online Admissions for Grade 1 and 8 Application Period:

Application Period

OPEN THURSDAY, 24 JULY 2025 AT 08:00 AM
CLOSE FRIDAY, 29 AUGUST 2025 AT 00:00 AM

2026 ONLINE ADMISSIONS APPLICATION PROCESS

• All parents and guardians in Gauteng with children going to Grade 1 and/or Grade 8 in the 2026 Academic year must apply online to be admitted to a Gauteng public school.

• All applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners will be processed through the GDE Online Admissions System only.

• Parents and guardians applying for Grade 1 and Grade 8 MUST all apply during the application period (24 July 2025 – 29 August 2025).

• Parents must apply within the application period because schools become full and will not be available for late applications. Parents applying late do not have a wide choice of schools.

• Entry Grade for 2026 admissions is Grade 1.

• Parents with children that are currently in Grade R must also apply online for their children to be admitted to Grade 1 (there’s no automatic progression to Grade 1).

• ALL Grade 1 applications will be processed and qualified in line with the Admissions Regulations.

• Parents are reminded that the GDE Online Admissions System currently only services applications to Grade 1 and Grade 8.

• Applications to other grades must be made directly at the school(s) of your choice.

To apply, parents and guardians must first register on:
www.gdeadmissions.gov.za

which will go live on Thursday, 24 July 2025 at 08:00 AM for applications

• Parents will not be able to access the system before it goes live on 24 July 2025.

• All parents are expected to register, as previous login details will not work.

• Only parents with children going to Grade 1 and/or Grade 8 seeking space at a public school in Gauteng for the 2026 Academic Year will be able to register and apply online.

• Applications will then close on Friday, 29 August 2025 at 00:00 AM (midnight).

• No new applications will be accepted once the application period has closed.

2026 ONLINE ADMISSIONS APPLICATION PERIOD

• After registering on www.gdeadmissions.gov.za, the system will prompt parents to create login credentials (username and password) which they will use to access the Online Admissions System to view and manage their application details.

• Parents must remember to read and accept the Terms and Conditions.

• Once applicants have gained access to the System, they MUST BEGIN with the application process and ensure that they complete the Five (5) Step Application process.

5 STEP APPLICATION PROCESS

When applying for Grade 1 and/or Grade 8 during the 2026 GDE Online Admissions application process, parents MUST complete the following 5 Step Application Process to submit a complete application:

• Applicants MUST ensure that they complete the full 5 Step Application Process.

• Applicants who have registered their details without applying to any school will not be considered for placement.

• As such, it is important to register ONE reliable and active cellphone number to receive SMS notifications reminding you to complete your application.

WHAT IS AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION?

• An application that is submitted without the parent choosing a school.

• An application that is submitted without the required documents.

• A parent creating a profile with no application submitted.

• Application with proof of residence that cannot be confirmed/verified or is different from the physical address used to apply.

WALK-IN CENTRES

• In an effort to make resources accessible, 81 Decentralised Walk-In Centres have been prepared by the GDE, and they are set up across Gauteng to assist parents with registration and applications.

• Parents are encouraged to ensure that their information is correctly captured on the registered profile when being assisted with registration and applications at these centres to avoid errors.

• The GDE will not be responsible for parents sharing information with private entities (e.g. Internet cafés) where it could be potentially misused.

• Parents should not go to businesses that require them to pay a fee under the guise of helping them apply.

• Assistance and applications at any one of our 81 Decentralised Walk-In Centres is absolutely free.

• Bogus businesses are scamming parents and falsely promising them a guaranteed placement if they pay a certain fee.

• The GDE does NOT charge parents a fee when assisting them to apply.

IMPORTANCE OF CELLPHONE NUMBER

• NB: Applicants must provide ONE reliable and correct cellphone number when registering in order to receive important SMS notifications and updates regarding their application(s)

• Every step of the application process will be confirmed via SMS for security and verification purposes.

• During the Application Process, there will be weekly pop-up messages on the System and SMS notifications sent to registered applicants as reminders to complete their application.

• SMS notifications will also be sent to parents to acknowledge submission and verification of documents. Therefore, parents are encouraged not to change cell phone numbers, but in unforeseen cases the Department must be contacted for assistance.

FEEDER ZONES

• Parents are encouraged to use the home address within school feeder zone application option to see schools with feeder zones that cover their home address.

• To increase the chances of placement closer to the parent’s home address, parents should select schools with feeder zones that cover the parent’s home address.

SELECTION OF SCHOOLS

• NB: When applying, parents are urged to select:

  • a minimum of 3 schools

  • a maximum of 5 schools

• Parents who select 1 or 2 schools when applying could miss an opportunity of the child being placed at selected schools when the 1 / 2 schools reach full capacity before their child is placed.

• Selecting more schools increases the chances of being placed.

• Parents cannot make more than one application for one learner to the same school.

• All schools will remain open and accessible on the System for applications during the Application Period.

• This means no school will disappear from the System during the application period.

• NB: Placement will be based on the Placement criteria and availability of spaces according to each school’s capacity.

• Therefore, once again, parents are urged to apply to a minimum of 3 schools and a maximum of 5 schools.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR GRADE 1 AND 8 APPLICATIONS

Parents MUST submit certified copies of one type of identification document and ALL of the other documents listed below:

1. SA Parent ID or Passport and Child’s Birth Certificate or Passport; or

2. Refugee Permit; or

3. Asylum Seeker Permit; or

4. Permanent Residence Permit; or

5. Study Permit; and

6. Proof of Home Address; and

7. Proof of Work Address; and

8. Latest Grade 7 School Report (Grade 8 applicants only); and

9. Clinic Card/Immunisation Report (Grade 1 applicants only)

All required documents must either be:

Uploaded online onto the Online Admissions System

• Each required document MUST BE UPLOADED ONCE, and it will be viewed by all schools selected by applicants

• Parents who uploaded documents online will receive an SMS notification to acknowledge the upload of their documents

• When uploading online, please ensure all documents are certified and comply to the document format and size required (example: PDF 10MB File Size Max)

Submitted physically at schools selected during application process

• Documents that are submitted to schools physically must be submitted to all schools selected by applicants

• Parents who submitted documents physically will receive a stamped slip from the school to acknowledge the submission of documents

• When submitting physically, please ensure all documents are certified and accurate

• NB: Parents and guardians must ensure that the information on the documents they provide matches the information they enter onto the System when applying.

• Parents and guardians must ensure that all documents are certified and valid.

• Submitting or uploading fraudulent documents will result in non-placement for your child.

• All documents must be submitted OR uploaded within 7 days of applying.

• Constant System reminders on parent profile and SMS notifications will be sent to parents to submit or upload documents within 7 days.

• Applications without a valid Proof of Home Address will be considered INCOMPLETE.

• During the Application Period, consistent reminders will be sent to applicants with INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS to submit outstanding documents within 7 days.

• 7 Days after the Application Period, all Applicants with Incomplete Applications are informed via SMS and a message on their profile, that their applications are not valid.

PROOF OF HOME ADDRESS

• Proof of Home Address is the most important document when applying.

• Placement is confirmed on whether the school could verify the details of the Proof of Home Address.

• Proof of Home Address that applicants upload or submit should have details that match those entered by applicants on the System.

• Parents are urged to submit additional information relating to proof address as requested by schools.

Certified copies of the following documents are accepted as Proof of Home Address:

Homeowners:

1. Municipal account not older than 3 months in the name of the applicant parent bearing the full residential address

Tenants / renters: ALL the following documents:

1. Municipal account not older than 3 months in the name of the landlord (homeowner) bearing the full physical residential address; and

2. The following documents:

a) Lease agreement signed by landlord and tenant, not older than 3 months bearing the full physical residential address; and
b) Rental Payment slip with full physical residential address not older than 3 months; and
c) Statement of any account in the name of the applicant parent bearing the full physical residential address

• PLEASE do not submit fraudulent Proof of Home Address as schools have systems to verify such documents.

• Given the rate of fraudulent Proof of Home Addresses submitted in the previous years of the Online Admissions Application, some schools resorted to visiting applicants in person to verify their addresses.

• The GDE is in support of this action as it curbs the application of parents who seek to gain unfair entry into the system and schools, which defeats the purpose of the system being equitable for all parents.

VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS

• The System will prompt schools to verify and update document status whether uploaded online or submitted physically.

• SMS notifications will be sent to parents to acknowledge submission and verification of documents.

• During and up to 7 days after the end of the Application Period, schools will receive an auto alert each time applicants upload new documents.

• The System will highlight all uploaded and physically submitted documents for schools to verify.

• The System will also generate a report indicating the number of unverified documents per School on the School, District and Provincial Dashboard.

GRADE 1: LANGUAGE OF LEARNING AND TEACHING

GRADE 1:

• Parents must select their preferred Language of Learning and Teaching from a list of 11 official languages.

• The System queues learners for placement at schools that offer preferred Languages selected by parents.

GRADE 8: LANGUAGE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

GRADE 8:

• The System will prompt applicants to select Language of Learning and Teaching (LOLT), Home Languages (HL) and Additional Languages per school based on languages in the learner’s Grade 7 Report.

• The selected LOLT, HL and Additional Languages must be the same as those in the learner’s Grade 7 School Report.

• Schools will verify Languages on Learner Grade 7 Report.

• The System will queue learners for placement at schools that offer Languages that the learner study up to Grade 7.

APPLICATION TO OTHER GRADES

• Parents with learners in Grades 2-7 and Grades 9-12 in 2026 are urged to keep their children in schools where they are already enrolled.

• Parents and guardians who wish to apply for Grade R, at a public school in Gauteng for the 2026 Academic Year MUST apply directly at their identified school(s) and not on the GDE Online Admission System.

• Parents and guardians who wish to apply for learners In Grades 2-7 and Grades 9-12*, at a public school in Gauteng for the 2026 Academic Year, MUST apply directly at their identified school(s) and not on the GDE Online Admission System.

• Only parents and guardians who have relocated too far from the learner’s current school, may apply directly to their identified schools with feeder zones that cover their home addresses.

APPLICATIONS TO SCHOOLS OF SPECIALISATION (SOS)

• All Applicants may submit applications to mainstream schools, schools with boarding facilities and Schools of Specialisation, on the GDE’s Online Admissions portal.

• Schools of Specialisation offer a highly specialised academic, sports, or arts and culture curriculum and therefor targets the top performing learners across the province.

• Section 2C. (2) of the Regulations related to the Admission of Learners to Public Schools, 2001, as amended, provides that the principal of a School of Specialisation may administer a placement test on the instruction or prior written approval of the Head of Department.

• A placement test may be in the form of a written theoretical test, an audition, or sporting trial.

• Only learners who pass the placement test will qualify to be in the placement list for admissions to the School of Specialisation, therefore it is important to apply to other mainstream schools as well.

• Parents who apply to Schools of Specialisation MUST ensure that they contact the school to determine the date and time for the placement tests.

WHAT IS A SCHOOL OF SPECIALISATION?

Specialisations/Disciplines:

• Maths, Science & ICT

• Sports

• Commerce & Entrepreneurship

• Performing and Creative Arts

• Engineering

In line with the province’s Transformation, Modernisation and Reindustrialisation (TMR) strategy, the Department launched 36 Schools of Specialisation (SOS) in five different specialisation fields (disciplines) across the province

• Schools of Specialisation are NOT schools for learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN)

• Schools of Specialisation seek to develop South Africa’s future generation of leaders

• Response to the skills need

• Have a distinct operating model – regulatory framework; funding sources; learner and teacher sourcing; curriculum; post-metric support

• Curriculum strongly focused on an area of expertise

• Very practical learning (e.g., how to build an engine)

• Often entails extended curriculum and extended school hours

SCHOOLS OF SPECIALISATION IN THE DIFFERENT ECONOMIC CORRIDORS

20. St Barnabas College (JN)
    Maths/Science/ICT
    Maths/Science/ICT
    Performing Arts
    Engineering
    Commerce and Entrepreneurship
    Multiple Specialisations
    Maths/Science/ICT
    Maths/Science/ICT

21. UJ Metropolitan Academy (JN)
    Maths/Science/ICT
    Maths/Science/ICT
    Performing Arts
    Engineering
    Commerce and Entrepreneurship
    Multiple Specialisations
    Maths/Science/ICT
    Maths/Science/ICT

22. National School of the Arts (JS)

23. John Orr Technical High School (JS)

24. PACE Secondary School (JC)

25. Curtis Nkondo Specialisation (JC)

26. Letsibogo Girls Secondary (J)

27. Raymond Mihaba (JW)

GGT2030

GROWING GAUTENG TOGETHER

1. Sikulueklie Secondary School (TN)

2. Ribane-Laka Secondary School (TS)

3. Edward Phatudl Secondary School (TS)

4. Phelindaba Secondary School

5. Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sport School (TS)

6. Elangala Secondary School (GN)

7. Soshanguwe Tech (TN)

8. Tebogwana Secondary School (TN)

9. Pro Arte Alphen Park

10. Mapenane Secondary School

11. Lethabong Secondary School

Maths/Science/ICT
Maths/Science/ICT
Maths/Science/ICT
Maths/Science/ICT

Central

32. Mohloli Secondary School (SE)

33. JET Nteo Secondary School (SW)

34. Khutto-Tharo Secondary School (SW)

35. Thuto-Tiro Comprehensive School (SW)

36. Khanya Lesedi (SE)

Maths/Science/ICT (Maritime)
Commerce and Entrepreneurship
Performing Arts
Engineering
Sport

12. Thuto Ke Maatia (EN)

13. Mpilisweni (EN)

14. Tembisa (EN)

15. East Rand School of the Arts (EN)

16. Katiehong Technical Senior (ES)

17. Rhodesfield Technical (EN)

18. Oosrand Secondary School (ES)

19. Kwa-Thema Skills School

Maths/Science/ICT
Maths/Science/ICT
Commerce and Entrepreneurship
Performing Arts
Engineering
Engineering
Commerce and Entrepreneurship
Technical Occupational

SCHOOLS WITH BOARDING FACILITIES

• Parents applying for residence at schools with boarding facilities in Gauteng must first contact the school to confirm acceptance within the boarding facilities and secure space.

• Additionally, such parents are required to apply online for admission to the schools.

• Applicants who do not seek residence in the schools with boarding facilities may apply for admission to the schools.

• Such applicants may be placed as day school learners in line with the admissions criteria where space is available.

PLACEMENT CRITERIA

When applying online, it is critical to remember that the following placement criteria is considered in order of priority:

1. Home address within the school’s feeder zone closest to the school

2. Sibling/previous schools

3. Work address within school’s feeder zone

4. Home address within 30km radius

5. Home address beyond 30km radius

PLACEMENT PERIOD

• SMSes with Placement Offers will be sent to parents from 16 October 2025.

• Further details concerning placements will be communicated closer to the Placement Period.

• The placement period will continue until the very last learner is placed.

ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS

• To avoid overcrowding at admissions high pressure schools, we are continuing to fund identified schools to increase their capacity through the Self Build classroom initiative and provision of mobile classrooms.

• The Department is aware that a number of schools in high pressure areas are oversubscribed, and is using all possible mitigations to ensure that all applicants are placed.

DECENTRALISED WALK-IN CENTRES

• Reminder: Applicants who may not have access to internet or resources required to apply can visit any one of our 81 Decentralised walk-in centres located across our 15-education districts where officials will safely assist with applications.

• In addition:

  • Head Office, all 15 District Offices and schools will serve as walk-in centres.

• Information on Decentralised Walk-In Centres/Libraries is available on the GDE Website, GDE Social Media Platforms and all District offices.

CONTACT US

For more information, assistance or comments:
Call us on 0800 000 789
WhatsApp us on 060 891 0361
Email: [email protected]
You can also reach out to us on our social media pages:

Facebook: The Gauteng Department of Education

X: @EducationGP1
Instagram: @gautengdepartmentofeducation

For further information, visit www.education.gauteng.gov.za

PLAY YOUR PART!

Apply ONLINE for Grade 1 and/or Grade 8 to secure your child’s space at a Gauteng public school