Western Cape Education Department urges parents: Late registration for Grades 1 and 8 ends this Friday
The WCED said its late online applications ends on Friday, May 16.
Image: Independent Media
The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has urged parents and guardians to complete their online registration for the 2026 school year.
The late online applications for Grades R, 1, and 8, close on Friday, May 16.
The on-time admissions window for Grade R, 1, or 8 in 2026 closed on April 15, 2025, but the online admissions system has remained open for late applications.
“So far, we have received late applications for 8,603 learners for these grades, bringing the total number of learners applied for thus far to 173,872. The online system will close on Friday, May 16, so we encourage any parent who still needs to apply to do so urgently. After this date, late applications will need to be submitted at education district offices or schools. Late applications will only be considered by schools after the applications received during the on-time window have been considered,” WCED’s Director of Communications, Bronagh Hammond, said.
Parents are urged to submit their late applications as soon as possible. The WCED said this helps it plan better if additional school places are required.
For parents who applied on time, schools are currently considering the applications received during the on-time window and are applying their admissions policies to select successful applicants.
Schools will start to make offers of acceptance to parents from May 30, 2025, and parents will need to confirm their acceptance by June 17, 2025.
“The most important thing that parents can do now, before the outcomes are available, is to ensure that they update the department if their contact details change. Every year, we face challenges with parents who are uncontactable when an offer is available for their child, so we urge parents to assist us by providing accurate details,” Hammond said.
Parents can contact the WCED call centre on 0861 819 919 (press 1 for admissions) to make the necessary changes to their contact details.
Transfer applications for Grades 2 - 7 and 9 - 12 will open on August 4, and close on August 18.
“Transfer applications for learners who have reached their highest grade in their school, or whose parents have relocated, will be prioritised,” Hammond said.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL