Gauteng parents demand scrapping of online placement system as hundreds of learners remain unplaced

Mapaballo Borotho

Gauteng parents are demanding the scrapping of the online placement system as thousands of learners remain unplaced ahead of the 2026 school year.
About 4,700 Grade 1 and Grade 8 pupils are still without school placements, sparking protests at education offices.
The department says placements are being released daily and progress is being made.

Thousands of parents in Gauteng have called for the cancellation of the online school placement system, saying they are frustrated that their children have not yet been placed, less than 24 hours before the 2026 academic year begins.

The parents gathered outside the Gauteng Education Department’s district offices in Morningside on Tuesday morning, claiming the online placement system does not work and is ineffective.

Some said they experienced similar challenges with the system as far back as seven years ago with their other children.

Currently, an estimated 4,700 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners have not been placed. The frustrated parents say the department continues to fail each year to ensure their children have access to schools.

Earlier this month, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane announced that fewer than 5,000 pupils remained unplaced for Grade 1 and Grade 8, describing this as sustained progress in learner placement across the province for the 2026 academic year.

Meanwhile, Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona has assured parents that the department continues to release placement and transfer offers daily to ensure all remaining pupils are placed as efficiently and fairly as possible.

As schools open on Wednesday, frustrated parents say they can only hope their children will be placed in time to begin their academic journeys like many other learners across South Africa.