THE increase in the number of learners who passed last
November’s Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council Ordinary Level examinations has
caused serious Form Five enrolment challenges, as most potential learners are
struggling to secure places.
More than 63 000 pupils obtained Grade C or better in at
least five subjects with schools, especially those that offer boarding
facilities, already over-subscribed.
With most schools expected to start Lower Six lessons this
week, many learners are still stranded and are hopping from one school to the
other armed with recommendation letters in the vain hope of securing places.
In selecting learners for Form Five, schools usually give
first preference to their excelling O-Level learners with good disciplinary
records.
They also take into consideration the subject combinations
the learners want and it is done on a first come, first serve basis.
Those from other schools should have a recommendation
letter from their previous school explaining their disciplinary record, while
church-run schools also give first preference to learners from their
denomination.
Although the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary
Education, Mr Edgar Moyo, said they are still to receive the actual enrolment
figures of Form Five learners, education secretaries for different churches
confirmed that demand for places is high.
“We are hearing that recruitment is going on well at most
schools. Securing places at boarding schools is usually a challenge because of
the high demand.
“We cannot rule out the issue of over-subscription of Form
Five classes because of the low numbers that are recruited.
“Schools that score high marks are usually overwhelmed by
demand for places as parents want their children to get the best education.
Those who are facing challenges in securing places should approach provincial
education directors and district inspectors’ offices for assistance as they
have better knowledge of schools within their jurisdictions. They will advise
them on other alternatives,” said Cde Moyo.
Seventh Day Adventist Church East Zimbabwe Conference
education director, Dr Robert Muzira, said from the reports they are getting
from their schools, it shows that demand for Form Five places is high this
year.
“Our schools are still recruiting and I do not have the
actual enrolment figures with me right now. The number of e-mails we are
getting from people asking us to assist them in securing places for their
children is overwhelming. The reason why there is high demand for places is
that usually Form Five classes are fewer than Form Four classes. Schools might
have three or four form four classes, but at A-Level, it is usually a single or
two classes depending on the combinations of subjects. We are also using a
template availed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in
recruiting the learners,” he said.
On measures they are taking to address the shortage of
places, Dr Muzira said they are turning some of their schools like Katenga in
Makoni and Handina Adventist schools into boarding schools.
“Most boarding schools are oversubscribed and we are
working on increasing the number of boarding schools under our administration.
At Katenga, we are building boarding facilities and we have applied to the
education authorities in Rusape to transform Handina Adventist School into a
boarding one. We want to have more schools in near future,” said Dr Muzira.
Roman Catholic Church Gweru Diocese education secretary,
Father Augustine Chirikadzi, said recruitment is going on well in the diocese.
“We are managing the recruitment process well. Each school
is looking at the number of As obtained by a learner at O-Level, but demand for
boarding places is high,” he said.
Mutare Diocese education secretary, Mr Lawrence Chibvuri,
said the screening process is transparent although most schools are already
over-subscribed.
“We use a first come, first serve approach in recruiting
Form Five learners. At day schools like St Dominic’s and St Joseph’s in Mutare,
we asked them to recruit on the same day because we realised that some parents
have a tendency of going to all schools trying to secure places for their
children and this ends up creating a lot of confusion on the part of schools
administrators as a learner can be offered places at more than one school.
“The issue of combinations also comes into play because
some of the combinations that the learners want are not offered at particular
schools. Combinations help shape a child’s future and we want learners to enrol
for the best combinations.
“As a church institution we also value discipline and we
look at recommendation letters of learners coming from other schools.
At times it is a puzzle to find a high flier not being
accepted by his or her former school and this can result in one failing to
secure a place as his discipline may be questionable. Headmasters should be
honest and tell the truth of one’s disciplinary record,” said Mr Chibvuri.
Herald
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