Gauteng public school learners will return to classrooms on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, for the fourth and final term of the academic year. According to the Department of Basic Education’s official school calendar, the term will run for 10 weeks, with teaching ending on Wednesday, 9 December. Grade 12 learners will also begin their final National Senior Certificate examinations on 13 October, making the first weeks of the new term particularly important for matric candidates.
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Applications opened on 18 September 2026. The official NSFAS 2027 application portal currently lists 31 October 2026 as the closing date, meaning applicants should take note that this differs from the 18 November date initially reported when the application cycle was launched.
The Gauteng Department of Education has investigated 61 schools suspected of operating illegally since January 2026 and issued closure notices to 32 institutions, raising concerns for parents making school placement decisions across the province. Education MEC Lebogang Maile disclosed the figures at a briefing on Sunday, 13 September, saying officials had visited schools to check their registration and compliance documents. The department says affected learners must be helped into legally operating schools, while parents should verify an independent school’s registration before paying fees or enrolling a child.
Gauteng parents and learners have two weeks of school left before public schools close for the September school holidays on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. The break begins on 24 September and runs until 5 October, with learners returning to classrooms for the fourth and final term on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.
Gauteng parents who applied for Grade 1 and Grade 8 places for the 2027 school year have until 12:00 on Friday, 11 September 2026, to submit outstanding certified documents. The Gauteng Department of Education said applications without the required documentation, particularly valid proof of home address, will be regarded as incomplete and will not receive placement offers.
Thousands of Gauteng parents have just days left to submit Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications for the 2027 school year. The Gauteng Department of Education application period closes at midnight on Friday, 4 September 2026, after which parents who have not applied will have to wait for the late application process. According to the department, applications must be completed through the official GDE Admissions online portal, with supporting documents submitted within the required timeframe.
Your home address plays a major role in where your child may be placed during the Gauteng Department of Education’s 2027 online admissions process. The department uses feeder zones to prioritise applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements at public schools across Gauteng. Parents applying before the Friday, 4 September 2026 deadline should understand how these catchment areas work, how applications are prioritised and why choosing schools within your designated feeder zone could improve your child’s chances of placement
Gauteng Grade 12 learners will begin their 2026 preliminary examinations on Tuesday, 25 August, with the provincial timetable running until Friday, 18 September. The exams come as matric pupils enter the final stretch before the National Senior Certificate examinations, which begin nationally in October. While matric prelims are not national examinations, they provide an important opportunity for learners to test their preparation, identify weak areas, and adjust their study strategies before the final papers.
Parents and guardians applying for Grade 1 and Grade 8 places through the Gauteng Department of Education’s 2027 Online GDE Admissions portal have until midnight on Friday, 4 September 2026, to complete their applications. The system requires applicants to complete all five steps, choose schools and submit supporting documents within seven days, but login problems, address errors and upload failures can slow the process. These troubleshooting tips explain what to do when the portal does not work as expected and where to get official help.
Parents and guardians applying for Grade 1 and Grade 8 placements for the 2027 school year can receive free assistance at one of the Gauteng Department of Education’s decentralised walk in centres across the province. The centres are available throughout the 2027 Online GDE Admissions application period, which opened on 5 August 2026 and closes on 4 September 2026.