The Gauteng Department of Education

04/09/2026

MEC MAILE TO PROVIDE UPDATE ON 2027 ONLINE ADMISSIONS AND PLACEMENTS

Gauteng Acting Premier, Lebogang Maile, in his capacity as MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, will on Sunday, 6 September 2026, host a media briefing to provide an update following the closure of the application period for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners.

The MEC will provide a comprehensive recap of the application period, which ran from 5 August to 4 September 2026, including key developments and the next steps in the admissions process, with a particular focus on the placement phase and what parents and guardians can expect as the Department prepares to commence placements.

📅 Date: Sunday, 6 September 2026
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM

📲 Watch the media briefing LIVE on the GDE digital platforms.

04/09/2026

The Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, is currently meeting with the Independent Schools Directorate. The aim of this engagement is to assess the state of independent schooling in the province and ultimately strengthen oversight of the sector.

Independent schools play an important role in Gauteng’s education landscape by complementing the public schooling system and expanding access to education. The engagement focuses on strengthening regulatory compliance, accountability and collaboration to ensure that all learners across the province, whether in independent or public schools, have access to quality education.

04/09/2026

☎️ | CLOSES TONIGHT

Need help with your application? Have a question or are you experiencing challenges with the application process?

📢 Reach out to the GDE Contact Centre TODAY. Our team is available on extended hours to assist parents and applicants with admissions enquiries and other GDE services before applications close tonight.

📞 Call: 0800 000 789
📱 WhatsApp: 060 891 0361
📧 Email: [email protected]

💻 Apply online: www.gdeadmissions.gov.za

⏰ Don’t wait until the last minute. If you need assistance, contact us TODAY and let us help you complete your application before midnight.

Play Your Part! Apply Online. Apply On Time.

04/09/2026

🚨 CLOSES TODAY 🚨

The application period for Grade 1 & 8 in Gauteng CLOSES TODAY, Friday, 4 September 2026, at midnight tonight.

💻 Apply now 👉 www.gdeadmissions.gov.za

⏰ FINAL CALL: Parents have until midnight tonight to apply and complete their applications for Grade 1 & Grade 8 placement at a Gauteng public school for the 2027 academic year.

If you have already started your application, make sure you complete all the required steps before the system closes.

🚨 Don’t wait! APPLY NOW!

03/09/2026

Following the LSEN Schools Stakeholder Session, MEC Lebogang Maile updated the media on , saying the application period has progressed well despite minor challenges with supporting documents.

The Department will soon provide a full recap of the application period.

03/09/2026

03/09/2026

🎥 Watch the recap of MEC Lebogang Maile's update on the status of Inclusive Education in Gauteng here.

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Leb...

03/09/2026

🟦 MEC MAILE UPDATES THE PUBLIC ON THE STATUS OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN GAUTENG

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has outlined the progress being made to strengthen inclusive education and expand access to quality education for learners with disabilities and additional support needs across the province.

During the briefing, MEC Maile highlighted the significant progress made in expanding specialised education, strengthening support in mainstream schools, investing in educators and specialists, improving learner outcomes and creating practical and occupational learning pathways.

Gauteng has grown its Special Schools from 94 in 2012 to 131 in 2026, while more than 91,039 learners are benefiting from direct inclusive education and support interventions across the province.

Special School matric performance has also improved, rising from 93.16% in 2024 to 95.57% in 2025.

The province is further preparing to expand Full-Service Schools from 51 to 120, bringing specialist support closer to learners and strengthening inclusion within mainstream schools.

MEC Maile also acknowledged the challenges that remain, including placement pressures, with 702 learners currently awaiting Special School placement, and emphasised the need to continue expanding capacity and strengthening the support available to learners and their families.

These highlights from the briefing demonstrate Gauteng’s commitment to building an education system where every learner can access the support they need to learn, develop and reach their full potential.

Because access to education for all must mean every learner.

03/09/2026

STRENGTHENING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION THROUGH COLLABORATION

Following the media briefing highlighting the status of inclusive education in Gauteng, MEC Lebogang Maile engaged principals of LSEN schools and stakeholders working with Learners with Special Educational Needs.

The consultations provided an opportunity to listen, share experiences and strengthen partnerships to improve support and access for every learner.

Because building an inclusive education system takes all of us.

03/09/2026

📸: MEC Lebogang Maile hosted a media briefing to update the public on the status of inclusive education in Gauteng, with a focus on learners with disabilities and additional support needs.

The briefing sought to outline the progress made by the province in expanding access to specialised education, strengthening support systems and ensuring that learners with different educational needs are able to access quality education and reach their full potential.