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Message: [QUOTE="Shamiso, post: 83582, member: 160"] Furious parents mobbed district offices as thousands of kids still lack school placements. Gauteng education spokesperson Steve Mabona faced crowds at Morningside offices, promising talks with schools to increase learner intake. He cited efforts to ease pressure through quick solutions like additional mobile classrooms. Parents described chaotic queues and emotional confrontations after applying on time but receiving no responses. Many children starting primary or high school grades remain without confirmed spots. The situation repeats across the province, highlighting severe capacity constraints. Criticism centers on the online admissions system, blamed for delays and poor communication. Families report being offered placements at distant or unsuitable schools. They argue for a return to in-person applications to resolve technical glitches and slow processing. Department officials acknowledge system challenges but defend their role in managing high application volumes fairly. Mabona confirmed negotiations to boost space include funding for extra classrooms. He noted that building entirely new schools falls to a separate infrastructure department, causing delays. Overcrowding remains a core issue, with many classrooms exceeding capacity, particularly in high-demand areas. Incoming learners from other regions further strain the system. Additional complications like flood damage to buildings, exacerbate placement backlogs. The human impact sees children missing instructional time while parents sacrifice work to queue at offices. Many feel the process treats learners as mere numbers. The department urges patience, assuring most cases will be resolved shortly after the academic term begins. [/QUOTE]

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