The Sunday Mail
GOVERNMENT has introduced a system that highlights available Form One places within the country’s districts in a bid to cut parents’ expenditures as they secure places for their children.
As the Government moves in to cushion the parents, it has directed District Education Officers (DEOs) and Provincial Education Directors to ensure that all pupils seeking Form One places do not get stranded.
The data base that has been set up avails information on boarding and/or day school places in the respective districts.
“The Education Management Information System (Emis) will be used to allocate Form One places to avoid costs incurred by parents as they travel from one school to another, thus incurring unnecessary expenditures,” said Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Dr Lazarus Dokora.
Dr Lazarus Dokora told The Sunday Mail last week that pupils who have not yet secured Form One places will be admitted in public schools.
He added that DEOs would be notified of vacant places in schools around their districts, thereby making life easier for parents seeking places for their children.
Under the new system, schools are required to register pupils from their local areas, with headmasters demanding proof of residence upfront.
“It has come to my attention that there are a number of parents who are still looking for Form One places for their children.
“Such parents are requested to approach their District Education Offices for assistance. The District Education Office will indicate boarding or day school places that are still available where applicable.
“Placement of learners into Form One is regulated by the Secretary’s circular Minute 13 of 2014 which will be distributed to schools. This will effectively regulate enrolment in 2015.
This comes after some of the top schools listed as the 100 best secondary schools started turning away prospective students by mid-December as the institutions were over-subscribed.
As a result, most students who recently completed Grade Seven are struggling to obtain Form One places. The 2014 Grade Seven results were announced during the first week of December.
Last year’s pass rate for Grade Seven was 38,13 percent which reflects a 95 percent increase from 2011’s 20,11 percent.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has also stopped schools from setting entrance tests for Form One places after some authorities were accused of fleecing parents of their money.
Minister Dokora said the country urgently required at least 2 000 new schools to add to the already existing 8 000 primary and secondary schools.
Of the 2 000 schools, he said 1 400 should be constructed or upgraded to acceptable standards in resettlement areas.
The shortage of public schools in Zimbabwe has seen a proliferation in privately-run unregistered schools.
Minister Dokora said: “As Government it is still our primary role to educate the nation not those private colleges. It is also important to note that although these colleges are playing a complementary role, their standards are below the expected standards.”
Meanwhile, some primary schools are charging non-refundable registration fees ranging between US$50 and US$120 when seeking Grade One places.
Minister Dokora warned parents against paying this money.
He said the Ministry’s officers will carry out investigations and those found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with accordingly.
Schools open for the First Term on January 13.
