Statement by André Gaum, Western Cape Education Minister

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will admit underage learners in Grade One once again this year, if the department has found that the learners are school ready.

The WCED is currently completing the processing of applications for the enrolment of underage learners, who are turning six in 2003.

The deadline for applications was 31 October 2002.

The department mounted an Enrol Early campaign in September last year to encourage parents to enrol children early if the learners are entering primary or high school for the first time this year, or if they are changing schools.

The national age requirement is that learners must turn seven in Grade One. The national department relaxed the requirement, subject to conditions set on a provincial level, following a court action in 2000.

The WCED has developed a screening test used to assess the school readiness of underage learners. The department used the test for the first time in 2002, and has used the test to assess underage learners once again for enrolment in 2003.

The WCED's Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs), in each of the seven education districts in the province, are managing the assessment process.

The WCED's Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs), in each of the seven education districts in the province, are managing the assessment process.

The EMDCs are currently finalising their statistics on the number of applications for underage enrolments for 2003.

By Monday, 20 January 2003, five of the seven EMDCs had processed a total of 5 182 applications, of which 1 324 were successful (25.6%).

The WCED received a total of 5736 applications for the 2002 school year. Of these, 2145 (38%) were found to be school ready. Applications for 1169 children could not be assessed in 2002 because the required information provided was incomplete.

Our first priority is to ensure that children of the correct school going age, namely, those turning seven this year, have access to places in Grade One.

Nevertheless, we have done well to give parents every opportunity to enrol underage learners this year. I congratulate our schools and our EMDCs for all their hard work to make this possible.