WCED places over 26 000 late learners
. Learner placement
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The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has confirmed that over 26 000 learners with late applications have been placed across the province, with over 1 000 yet to be accommodated.
Education watchdogs and political parties have criticised the numbers, citing it was not a true reflection of the reality faced by many.
WCED Director of Communications Bronagh Hammond said that since the beginning of January 2026, the department has placed 26 312 Grade R, 1, and 8 learners across the province.
Hammond explained: “This is in addition to the tens of thousands of learners placed during 2025.
“Despite having placed 96 percent of all learners who applied last year, including late applications submitted up to 10 December, the WCED experienced an unprecedented number of new extremely late applications at the start of 2026.”
She added that since the beginning of January 2026, the WCED received 25 065 new, extremely late applications for Grades R, 1, and 8.
As of 6 February 2026, for Grade 8, the WCED has placed 99.6 percent of learners for whom applications were received, with placement in progress for 396 learners.
The department said in Grade 1, placement is in progress for 326 learners, representing a placement rate of over 99 percent, and for Grade R, placement is in progress for 1 148 learners. 13 905 extremely late applications were received for Grade R this year.
Hammond added: “With schools having only reopened on 14 January… the fact that more than 26 000 placements have been made within four weeks is a remarkable accomplishment by our team.”
But Vanessa le Roux, founder of Parents for Equal Education (Peesa), is unimpressed and challenged the numbers, stating that she was inundated with calls and messages from parents who were desperately seeking to place their children.
Le Roux said: "It is time that the WCED must start telling the truth, and stop leaving parents and learners in limbo, these ‘extremely late’ applications they refer to is not the truth.
“They should stop playing with numbers. What they now portray, I believe, is the amount from the start, they should try and put the interest of children before their own brand.”