Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) has described Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora’s directive that pupils should apply for Form One places online as a unworkable and meant to disadvantage pupils in rural areas.
Zimta chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu said the system was exclusive and will only benefit those with access to internet while affecting those in rural areas. He also criticised the Education Ministry for waiting until the last minute to announce the new system when it had the whole year to do so.
Said Ndlovu:
Online enrolment will only cause more confusion and corruption as parents will flock to schools to have their children enrolled at the last minute. We don’t see it as a progressive move but instead it will deny many children the opportunity to be enrolled into boarding schools.
Ndlovu praised schools that have ignored the directive and enrolled pupils the normal way. A headmaster at a boarding school in Matabeleland South criticised the new system citing the issue of internet. A parent also criticised the system.
See: List of High Schools in Zimbabwe and Contact Phone Numbers
Read More on: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education
Read More on: Electronic Ministry Application Platform (EMAP) (includes contact numbers)
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