Gauteng and Kenya Announce School Admission Timelines

The Gauteng Department of Education in South Africa will open an online admissions period for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners for the 2027 academic year. Applications open on 5 August 2026 at 08:00 and close on 4 September 2026 at midnight. Parents must submit required documents such as identification, birth certificates and proof of address, and are urged to apply early to avoid system congestion and to allow the department to plan school placements.

Kenya’s Ministry of Education has released dates for Grade 9 learners to select their preferred senior schools, pathways and subject combinations. The selection exercise runs from 24 August to 11 September 2026, following a series of virtual sensitisation sessions for education officials and school heads held between 3 August and 11 August. Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa directed regional and county directors to oversee the process and ensure smooth implementation ahead of the transition to Grade 10 in 2027.