The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has officially opened the Online Learner Admission System for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements for the 2026 academic year, running from Thursday, 24 July 2025 (08:00 AM) through to midnight, Friday, 29 August 2025. Placement is not on a first-come, first-served basis, but guided by a clearly defined priority ranking system.
How the Application and Placement Process Works
Application Timeline:
Applications are accepted online only at the official portal www.gdeadmissions.gov.za, with no offline or manual submissions permitted.
Number of Choices:
Parents must select between 3 to 5 public schools per learner to maximize placement chances.
Placement Criteria (in order of priority):
- Home address within the school’s feeder zone
- Having a sibling or previous learner at the school
- Work address within the feeder zone
- Home address within 30 km radius
- Home address beyond 30 km radius
Required Documents & Application Steps
5-Step Application Process:
- Register parent/guardian details
- Register home address
- Register learner details
- Apply to schools (3–5 choices max)
- Upload required documents or submit them physically within 7 working days of application
Documentation Checklist:
- Parent and child ID/passport or official permit
- Proof of home and work address
- Grade 7 report (for Grade 8 candidates)
- Clinic card or immunisation report (for Grade 1 applicants)
Applications that do not include both a school selection and valid supporting documents will be deemed incomplete and excluded from placement consideration.
System Performance & Support Structures
Since its inception in 2015, the GDE Online Admissions System boasts a consistent 98% placement rate for complete applications over 10 consecutive years, including nearly 400 000 placements in 2025 alone.
There are 81 decentralised walk-in centres across Gauteng districts for parents without internet access. These centres, along with some libraries, offer free assistance parents are warned to avoid paid intermediaries claiming guaranteed placement.
What the Instructional Video Reveals
A GDE video walkthrough (see link below) provides step-by-step guidance on the admission portal, including:
- How to register and log in
- Feeder-zone options and placement logic
- Uploading documents and user verification
- Choosing multiple schools to increase placement chances
Why This Matters for Parents
- There is no automatic rollover from Grade R to Grade 1 everyone must apply anew
- Placement is transparent and equitable, not time-based
- SMS notifications and pop-up reminders ensure applicants complete all steps to avoid disqualification
