Gauteng Education MEC says there is a growing demand for public education in the province [SOUND]

# Gauteng Education MEC, Lebogang Maile, says continued urbanisation, population growth and migration are placing increasing pressure on education infrastructure and public resources. Pupil enrolment increased by more than 23-thousand between 2025 and 2026 alone, representing demand equivalent to approximately 19 additional schools, each capable of accommodating around one-thousand-200 learners. Online admissions for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners for the 2027 academic year will open next Wednesday. Maile says the online admissions system has fundamentally transformed learner admissions in the province: