Parent disputes WCED's claim of child deregistration amid transfer issues

A parent disputes the WCED's account that they deregistered their child despite an unsuccessful transfer for Grade 5. The parent said they requested a transfer, not deregistration, and only explored a private school briefly.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said it was finalising learner placement figures with their 10 day survey data.

Bronagh Hammond, Director of Communications for the Western Cape Education Department said placement figures would be made available soon: “They are still mopping up 10 day survey data – hopefully by end of next week we will get verified figures."

Khalid Sayed, ANC leader in the Western Cape Opposition, criticised the delay in releasing placement data, noting it risks undermining a recent High Court judgment that found the WCED's admissions system discriminated against Black and marginalised learners. 

WCED Spokesperson Millicent Merton said the learner was placed, but the parent chose to deregister the child after an unsuccessful transfer application to Loreto Primary due to oversubscription. 

The parent however disputes the WCED's account, stating they requested a transfer, not deregistration, and only explored a private school briefly. 

The parent said the son, aged ten, previously at Gordon's Bay Primary, is currently unplaced for Grade 5 despite timely transfer applications (August 2025) to Loreto Primary (where a younger sibling was accepted) and follow-ups with WCED and other Helderberg schools, all of which are full. 

The parent added the reasons for the transfer included a move to Strand (Loreto is 2km away vs. Gordon's Bay Primary's 10km), unresolved bullying including wellbeing issues at the previous school, and the desire for a smaller environment. 

The family said the child has emotional and physical strain due to the lack of placement: “He is currently attending his previous aftercare school that is assisting us to look after him during the day while we have to work. They are also assisting him during the day with Grade 5 work books to practice through so that when we get him into a school, he is somewhat up to date with the other children.

“Despite following all required procedures and maintaining ongoing communication with both the school and the WCED, we have not received any substantive assistance. Each time we make contact, we are referred to a different official without progress or clarity, which creates the perception that our case is not being actively managed. 

“The only feedback provided has been that schools are oversubscribed, but no alternative solutions or placements have been offered.

“Our primary reason for requesting the transfer is to ensure that our son has access to a supportive learning environment with smaller class sizes and stronger values, which we believe will benefit his academic and personal development. His younger sibling has already been accepted at Loreto Primary, and we feel it is in the best interests of both children to attend the same school, both for family stability and continuity of education.

“In addition, our son experienced challenges at his previous school, including perceived victimisation and unresolved bullying, which negatively affected his performance.

Merton, said it would be incorrect to suggest that the learner “was not placed”. 

“The learner was placed at a school, and the parent chose to deregister their child despite knowing that their transfer application had been unsuccessful,” she added.

“In August 2025, the parents submitted an online application for a transfer to Loreto Primary School.In September 2025, the online system indicated that the application was unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed.

“In October 2025, the parent informed Gordon’s Bay Primary School that the learner would not be returning in 2026, and the deregistration process was initiated. The parent also reportedly informed a teacher that the learner would be enrolling at a private school.

"If this is no longer the case, the parent must urgently visit the district office to submit an application for admission to a public school.

“Parents are strongly advised not to deregister a child from their current school before securing confirmed placement at another school.”

In response to the department, the parent said: "At no point did I request that my child be deregistered from Public Schooling. I requested a "transfer, not deregistration, and I was issued a transfer letter without ever confirming placement at a private school. The statement that I informed the school or a teacher that he would be attending a private school is incorrect. Although we briefly explored a semi‑private school, that application was withdrawn and should not be interpreted as a confirmed intention to pursue private education.

"The only reason we are now forced to consider private options is because all public schools in our area have indicated that they are full."

Khalid Sayed, ANC leader in the Western Cape Opposition, criticised the delay: “The court confirmed that all learners, regardless of late applications, migration, or socioeconomic status, must have access to education without undue delay, and that the Department has a constitutional obligation to plan proactively, manage placements effectively, and provide transparency.”

"The ANC Caucus therefore urges the Department to: Release provisional learner placement statistics immediately, ensure timely and transparent reporting so that the WCPP, parents, and stakeholders can monitor compliance with the court-mandated reform process and prioritise the placement of all learners currently without school, in line with constitutional rights and the court’s explicit directives."

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