To succeed in today’s world, everyone needs to reap the benefits of digital transformation, rethink the model of operation and delivery of services.
Even in our homes, digitisation has transformed our everyday experiences: we watch the latest event programming on a streaming service, we order pizza online and we use platforms to shop online.
DIGITISATION TRANSFORMATION
Classrooms are shifting away from rows of desks to an environment that promotes collaboration between students, teachers and learning devices. It’s what we call the digital transformation education.
During the past two decades, the Gauteng provincial government has approved several policies to improve the quality of our education system. Through
digital transformation, textbooks are being swapped out for mobile devices that provide up-to-date content in real time.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND ONLINE LEARNER REGISTRATION
We are transforming the citizen experience with e-services and e-government. That is why eight years ago we introduced the online learner registration for entry grades (grade 1 and 8) to eliminate many of the old-style forms that must be completed by parents or guardians each year, allowing them to complete them electronically in the comfort of their own space.
To apply for admission to grade 1 or grade 8 for the 2024 academic year, parents and guardians visit the department’s website. From September 4, parents and guardians who completed their applications and had verifiable proof of residence started receiving placement offers. More than 228 027 parents have thus far received placement offers. Of these, 194 945 (63,71%) accepted placement offers. Only 11 074 accepted placement offers while awaiting further offers. A total of 4 334 parents have not responded.
Parents and guardians are digitally ranked for placement according to:
- Home address within school feeder zone closest to the school.
- Siblings in grades 1 – 7 or 8 – 11 only.
- Previous school in feeder zone.
- Work address within feeder zone.
- Home address within 30km.
- Home address beyond 30km.
Parents are advised to accept placement offers within seven school days after receiving the offer. Applicants with offers not accepted within seven schools will be auto placed at the school with a placement offer closest to the parent’s home address. When all other schools applied to reach full capacity, the system will auto-place the applicant at the school where they accepted offers provisionally.
As placement offers are issued, schools reach capacity and applicants who received no offers of placement will be digitally transferred to the next closest school with available space.
Parents who are unhappy with the transfer offer, have an opportunity to reject the placement offer and submit an objection online within seven school days of receipt of the offer.
Parents who reject the outcome of the objection may appeal within seven days. Appeals are responded to within 21 days and a response is issued online. The appeal outcome is final.
MIGRATION AND SCHOOLS PLACEMENT
Gauteng is experiencing a steady growth of learner numbers due to migration. There is a steady increase of between 8 000 and 12 000 learners placed in grade 1 and grade 8 annually.
The department is working hard to ensure there are adequate spaces at schools to accommodate the numbers that need to be placed by building new schools in Tshwane, Sedibeng, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
Working with the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency, we applied for funding and will be building 18 schools over a three-year period with a grant of R1.5-billion.
SELF-BUILD CLASSROOM PROJECTS
There are 487 primary schools and 287 secondary schools that are over-subscribed, compounding the risk of the.
To create sufficient space to accommodate all applicants, the department initiated a self-build classroom project.
Digital transformation is a key factor in providing the parents and guardians with access to education and other sectors such as health services.
We should all fully capitalise on the potential of our digital transformation.
- Chiloane is Gauteng MEC for education and youth development
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