​Thembisa Shologu
Phase 1 of the 2022 Admissions Online applications for the grade eight for the 2022 academic year is in full swing.
The Department of Education (GDE) has urged parents who do not have access to the internet to use alternative ways to apply.
"Parents and guardians are urged to use decentralised walk-in centres (including district offices) across the province, details are on our GDE admissions website and social media platforms," Contact Centre's Thembakazi Nemungadi said. 
Nemungadi said parents and guardians who cannot reach the call centre should email the department at: gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za.
Phase 1 application period opened from August 10 and will run until September 03, for Grade 7 learners currently in the public schooling system in Gauteng. 
By 11 August, over 10 000 calls were received by the call centre. 
"About 40% of those calls are technical-related enquiries and have been escalated to the technical team on online admissions, while 60% of those calls were resolved at the first point of contact," said Nemungadi.
The department urges parents to update their particulars including updated learner information from school and the verification of address before they could apply so they could avoid challenges.
"We have to search for the address, we have to complete all the application steps while we are getting that information from the parents. All those personal particulars need to be updated before you can apply.
"We are unable to assist parents who have not updated their details. We urge those parents to go back to the current Grade 7 school where their learner is attending to update the learner details," explained Nemungadi. 
The placement for Phase 1 will happen between October 15 and November 30, while phase two will be between November 15 and November 30.
Phase 2 applications will begin on September 13 and will focus on parents and guardians whose children will be going to Grade 1 or Grade 8 in 2022 but are not in a public school in Gauteng, this will end on October 8. END