How Do I Register For The GDE Online Admissions Portal

Registering for the GDE online admissions portal is one of the essential steps for all parents and guardians who wish for their children to enrol their children in public schools for the next academic year. With the GDE online admissions portal, the interface is friendly and promises not to give you any stress.

In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step procedure to register for the GDE Online Admissions Portal, ensuring your child’s smooth and successful enrollment. Whether you are a first-time user or need a refresher on the process, this introduction will provide you with the essential information you need to get started.

What is GDE?

Now that we have gotten the introduction out of the way, we will briefly talk about what GDE stands for. GDE is an abbreviation for the Gauteng Department of Education. This is a governmental department in the Gauteng province that is responsible for overseeing public education. One of its core mandates is to make sure that, all students have access to the best quality education there is.

The GDE also oversees the administration of school admissions, teacher allocations, curriculum development, and other essential aspects of the education system to support the academic and personal growth of students.

How Do I Apply For A School?

Applying for a school comes with some basic steps that you need to follow as a guardian or parent to complete a successful application process. Here are the steps to follow.

First and foremost, you need to visit the GDE admissions portal here https://www.gdeadmissions.gov.za
Once there, you have to register as a parent or guardian
After registration, you log into your account
The next thing is to add the details of your ward or child
Go ahead to select the schools you want for the child
Add supporting documents
Read through the documents again to see if it was filled out correctly
Submit your application

Step 1 Enter Details Of Parent/Legal Guardian

For this step, you will have to enter all details of the parent or guardian who is applying to a school for the learner. These details include;

Name
ID card number
Contact details

Once you have all that, you may proceed to create an account.

If you are a first-timer, you will have to register on the portal by creating an account.
Click on register on the portal to start creating an account
Fill in all the details at the required space thus with your name, ID card number and contact information
From there, you can create a password that is unique to just you. You will need the password to log into your account
Once you have your password and user name, go back to the login page to key in that information to log in officially
Make sure that you have entered the correct details only

Step 2: Enter Learner Details

At this stage, you have to enter your learner’s details. Your learner in this case is your child or ward or anyone who are applying for. Because you have already created an account as a parent or guardian, it is easy for you to enter the learner details. Here is what you have to do;

The first thing here is to look for the ‘apply for admission’ button. That is where you can enter the learner’s details
The next step is to add details of the learner. This includes their name, date of birth, passport number or ID number
Once that is filled out, you have to specify the grade you are applying to. For instance, if it is grade four, you have to note that it is grade four

Remember that, a learner cannot apply on his or her own. It is the job of the parent or guardian to and without registering as a parent, you will not be able to apply for the learner.

Step 3 Apply To A School

This is where you as a parent or guardian will select or choose a school for your learner. This stage is the most crucial and the parent or guardian needs to put a lot of deep thinking into it in order not to choose the wrong school for the learner. The process is simple. Here is what you will need to do;

The schools are chosen based on the residential address of the learner. A collection of schools near the learner’s place of residence will be displayed
The parent have to go through and select the most suitable for the learner. Each learner has up to five schools to choose from
The schools must be arranged in order of preference. The one the parent likes more should be on top of the list with the one they like less at the bottom of the list

Documents Needed

These are the documents that will make the application whole. The parent or guardian bears the responsibility of uploading all of the documents, including any supporting document. Here is a list of documents that will be needed;

The learner’s birth certificate or ID.
Proof of residence (utility bill, lease agreement, etc.).
Your ID or passport.
Immunization records (for Grade R and Grade 1 applicants).

You have to make sure that all documents are in the right format and eligible.

Submitting Your Application

When you get to this stage, it means you are almost at the finish line of the application process. Here is where you finally submit your application to GDE. Before submitting, do the following;

Go through the application to check if all details provided are correct. This is to ensure accuracy.
Once you are certain you have it all right, hit the submit button to finalize your application
When it goes through, you will receive a reference number for the GDE. Make sure you keep that number safe.

Tracking Your Application

This is where you check to see if your application was accepted or has even gone through. This can be done simply by going to the official GDE website. Once there, log into your account to check your application status. Any updates or required actions will be provided.

Responding to Placement

You will receive notifications regarding your application status once the application period closes and the placement process begins.
If you receive a placement offer, you must accept it within the stipulated timeframe.
Follow the instructions provided to confirm your acceptance.

Tips for Successful Application

The GDE application process is not tedious or even difficult but if you don’t take care, you may do all the wrong things and find yourself wanting. For the most successful application process, make sure you follow these tips;

Make sure that you apply early. The moment applications are opened, make it a point to be part of the first few people who apply. This increases your chances of getting your preferred school.
You know you are going to apply to schools the moment the academic year ends for a new one to begin. So use the waiting period to prepare and get all the required documents ready. This will make your application process smooth and a lot faster.
When applying, make sure you double-check the application process. Get all the details correct

What Are GDE Application Dates in 2025

Every academic year, GDE opens applications for parents and guardians to apply for their learners, that is their children. Application for the 2025 academic year has been opened. It opened on Thursday, 11th July at 8:00 and will close on Monday 12th August at midnight. This application is from Grade one through to Grade eight. This means that the application window is still open and parents and guardians who wish to apply for their learners can still do so.

Can I Still Apply If I Do Not Have Any Documents?

A parent or a guardian may want to apply for their learner although they do not have all the required documents. This is possible but can be very challenging.

First and foremost, when you get on the admission portal, click on the ‘no document’ button and continue with the application process
You have to fill out the form completely
The next thing is to provide a written explanation of the reasons for not having the documents
Reach out to the office on how to apply without the documents
Then you have to start gathering all the required documents
If you are unable to upload the documents online, visit any of the district offices

Documents Typically Required

Learner’s Birth Certificate or ID: Proof of the learner’s identity and age.
Proof of Residence: Utility bill, lease agreement, or other documents showing your residential address.
Parent/Guardian ID: Identification of the person applying on behalf of the learner.
Immunization Records: For Grade R and Grade 1 applicants.

Getting Your Missing Documents

If your documents are missing, there are ways to get them back. Here is how;

Visit the home office for a birth certificate and identification cards
For proof of residence, get a utility bill from your local municipality
And for your immunization records, you can visit the nearest hospital or clinic

Can I Apply For More Than One Learner?

You may be wondering if it is possible to apply for more than one learner, especially if you have more than one child. Well, the good news is that, you can apply for more than one leaner. This is because, each parent is limited to three children per every grade. What this mean is that, for let’s say Grade 3, you can apply for three children there, the same applies to all the grades.

How Do I Apply For Twins Or Triplets In The Same Grade?

Supposing you have twins or twins and you wish to apply for them, you can do so and it is simple. You will follow the same application process just like everyone but note that, all the children will be linked to one parent. This means that, it should be mentioned in the application process.

Twins and triplets will be placed in the same school.

How Do I Ensure That My Child Finds A School?

When applying to schools, it is the ultimate dream of every parent to find a suitable school for their child. How do you ensure that you child gets a school? You have to do the following;

You will have to apply to more than one school, making sure you include schools with feeder zones that covers your home address
Make sure you deliver or upload your home address documents and any other document that is required properly or deliver them directly to the school you applied to
You must bear in mind that, fraudulent or falsified document is criminal and if the system finds out that you falsified documents, your application will be rejected

GDE Admissions Contact Information

Physical Address

17 Simmonds Street (Ground Floor)

Marshalltown

Johannesburg

2001

Postal Address

P.O. Box 7710