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Ivan Zhakata

Herald Correspondent

THE Form 1 online application system has been given thumbs up by parents and guardians who agree it is working and has added convenience to the application process.

The e-map electronic platform for enrolling Form 1 places is being run by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and applicants can apply to a maximum of 20 schools.

The system provides a list of Government schools in all 10 provinces.

Parents and guardians have expressed happiness over the application saying they no longer have to travel to schools in search of Form 1 places for their children.

“This is the technological advancement we all have been waiting for a very long time. At least we not do not need to travel from one school to another in search of places for our kids as the list of schools is provided on the platform and you can choose from the list,” said Mrs Cynthia Matsa from Hatfield in Harare.

Mrs Maria Nyakuedzwa from Dzivaresekwa Extension said the e-map platform was a relief to most parents.

“The new technology saves time and is very convenient. You only need to be connect to the internet and the process is simple. Government should continue to come up with innovations like these, they are commendable,” she said.

Mr Kenias Chokodza from Milton Park echoed the same sentiments, saying as fathers they had the burden of going to different school searching for Form 1 places for their children.

“This is a relief because at some point you would want to travel to Mutare to look at a better school for your child then to Kutama College in Zvimba and Fletcher High School in Gweru so the pressure will be too much. We applaud the coming of the e-map application platform because it has eased the burden of searching for Form 1 places,” he said.

Mrs Mavis Mabgeazara said though the process was good she was not sure if her child would be enrolled at the school she put as the first preference on the list of schools she applied for.

“I am not sure that my child will get a place at the school I chose as the first preference because the system allows you to list more than five schools. I think something should be done but at least the good part of the application is that it provides a list of schools and you no longer have to travel,” she said.

Chairman of the Association of Schools Heads Mr Munyaradzi Majoni said he was happy that they have not been receiving any complaints about the application and enrolment process of Form 1 places.

“The new technology of applying on the new e-platform is a good innovation. We appreciate it because it has more advantages than disadvantages and saves a lot of money for parents or guardians.

“It also saves the parents’ time of travelling from one school to another as it is a very convenient way of applying for Form 1 places. We think the application should be downscaled to primary level so that parents can also make use of the application process when applying for Grade 1 places,” he said.

Mr Majoni said the online application process is a disadvantage for marginalised communities who might not have the equipment for online platforms, and encouraged them to do the physical application which they were doing before.

“Of course there are some disadvantages to the application especially in marginalised communities where they may fail to access the app,” he said.

“In that case physical applications can still be done by those with no access to the app. However, parents and guardians should give feedback after using the app so that it can be modified to suit the needs of the user.”