BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: Gauteng MEC’s Education System Burns Parents
In a shocking twist, the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) online application process for grades one and eight has gone up in flames, literally and figuratively. The State IT Agency’s (SITA) planned downtime at the weekend has thrown the entire system into chaos, prompting the department to extend the deadline for online applications. But is this just the tip of the iceberg?
As the deadline to apply for the 2025 academic year loomed, parents and guardians found themselves unable to upload essential documents, citing a system failure on the GDE’s part. The Department’s MEC, Matome Chiloane, revealed the shocking truth: the system had been offline for two days, and the IT agency’s planned maintenance and upgrade had caused the entire mess. Burned, parents are left with two days less to complete their online applications, and the department’s apology rings hollow.
But is this really an isolated incident? According to sources, the GDE has been plagued by technical issues and corruption, with some parents reporting false promises and broken promises by the department. The department’s IT system has been prone to hiccups over the years, and many have questioned the validity of the online registration process.
Meanwhile, the SITA has confirmed that all services have been fully restored, but the damage has already been done. Parents are left wondering what could have been done to prevent this catastrophic failure. The department’s inability to provide a seamless online application process is a stark reminder of the failures in education and governance in South Africa.
What’s next? The placement period is set to begin on September 16th, and parents are bracing themselves for the worst. Will they receive a placement offer, or will they be left in limbo? One thing is certain: the GDE’s education system is in dire need of an overhaul, and it’s the parents who are paying the price.
What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
