BACK TO SCHOOL NEWS - The Western Cape has 73 000 Grade Rs and 102 000 Grade 1s starting school today while 97 000 Grade 8 learners are starting high school.
In total, 1.2 million learners are enrolled in Western Cape schools for 2026.
Education Minister David Maynier says the province continue to face increasing demand for places in schools.
"For this reason the Rapid School Build programme continues to expand access to education in our province at an incredible rate in order to meet this demand and 9 new schools opened in a phased approach, have been fully completed for the 2026 school year."
These schools are located in Lwandle, Wallacedene, Blue Downs, Philippi, Tafelsig, Darling, Fisherhaven and Plettenberg Bay.
"We are opening the first phases of another 2 new schools - Ilitha Park High School in Khayelitsha and Brantwood High School in Kuilsriver."
Additional brick and mortar classrooms have also been added to 12 existing schools. In total, 175 new classrooms have been added to the system.
"A further 21 classrooms are in construction by School Governing Bodies, using funding provided by the WCED."
Books and pens
Maynier says schools were able to order top-up textbooks in May 2025, with full delivery completed by October 2025 at a cost of R58.7 million.
"Stationery for non-Section 21 schools, valued at R25.3 million, was delivered by November 2025 and an additional R31.6 million worth of school-related goods was delivered by December 2025."
Grade 1 Gericke Schoeman and mom Leandri Schoeman at Hoewil Primêr near Wilderness. Photo: Supplied
Admissions
Maynier says placing all children seeking a place in Western Cape schools is a challenging task, as hundreds of new applications are arriving each week.
According to a media statement by the Good Party, 7 000 children in the province are yet to be placed.
"We appeal to any parent who has not yet applied to do so immediately at their district office."
Details of the district officials who can assist are available on the WCED website.
"Crucially, we appeal to parents to ensure that they provide accurate, current contact details to our districts so that we can reach them when a place becomes available for their child," Maynier says.
He says the department understands that this will be a frustrating period for some of our parents, but gives the assurance that they will do all they can to find places for every learner in the Western Cape.
Minister David Maynier visited Tamboerskloof Primary School in Cape Town this morning. Photo: Supplied
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