Schools warned against inviting unlimited pupils for Form One entrance tests

SCHOOLS have been warned against inviting unlimited prospective pupils for Form One entrance tests to compete for very  few places, the Herald reported.

This follows complaints from parents who are accusing boarding schools of using entrance tests for fundraising.

Some schools are reportedly charging up to US$55 per pupil, up from US$20 which was standard in August when entrance tests began.

The scramble for form one places at boarding schools has intensified as the year comes to an end and most parents are seeking to have secured vacancies by December.

The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Senator David Coltart issued the warning yesterday.

"Some unscrupulous schools are cashing in on desperate parents by inviting hundreds of pupils for interviews against limited places available.
"I'm not against the payment of interview fees, but the system should not be abused.

"Why does a school have to call 2 000 pupils for interviews yet they only have space for just 100? The schools should have some sort of refund policy," said Sen Coltart.

He said while schools were justified in charging fees to cover administrative costs, the charges should be fair.

Some schools are reportedly charging an extra US$5 for a pupil to obtain the entrance form.

Ms Chipo Bewu of Harare said the practice "had created education imperialists some of whom hide behind religious courts."

"They are ripping off parents and capitalising on the poor and the laxity of the system, something that we never experienced even during the early days of independence," said Ms Bewu.

She said education was becoming a privilege and not a right to most poor children. This worked against the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Another Harare parent who refused to be identified said some members of staff from certain schools were openly demanding bribes.

Parents are told that places can be secured by the pupils who pay a bribe rather than those who excel in the entrance tests.

"It is no longer a secret that some mission school officials are openly demanding bribes of up to US$500 for your child to be offered a place, irrespective of writing entrance tests," she said.

Dating back to the colonial era, mission boarding schools have always been considered the best option for pupils whose parents cannot afford private schools.
Rural day schools are perceived as the worst with high-density schools considered only marginally better.

However, some of the schools that are being inundated by applicants do not necessarily have the best pass rates.

2010 results indicate that St Ignatius College, Goromonzi, Kutama and Gokomere are among the schools who are still riding on their reputation yet they are being beaten by little-known schools when it comes to results.

According to the 2010 pass rate rankings, Monte Casino, Kriste Mambo High, Hartzel High, St Faith, Daramombe High, St Ignatius College, John Tallack, St Dominic's and Shungu High were among schools with the best O Level results.

Zaka High, Marange High and Daramombe Secondary School, Wanezi High, Emmanuel Secondary, Lundi Secondary, Msengezi High and Mazowe High had the best A Level results.