Race for 2026 form 1 boarding school places begins

The race for 2026 Form One boarding school places has officially begun following the opening of the online application platform (eMAP) by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

In a statement released today, the Ministry said the eMAP system is now live and accessible via http://www.emap.co.zw/Form1Enrol/

The platform will remain open until 31 December 2025.

Parents and guardians can apply for up to five schools, and the Ministry clarified that all choices are treated equally - there is no ranked order.

"The system treats all five choices equally; it is a list, not a ranked order. When a school offers your child a place, you will receive an SMS. The instant your child is accepted by one school, all other pending applications are automatically cancelled. Your child can only hold one boarding place at a time," the Ministry said.

Officials further cautioned parents to carefully consider offers before declining them.

"If you choose to decline an offer, you must be aware that the place will immediately be offered to another applicant and cannot be reclaimed. Declining an offer is a final decision, and it may result in the child securing no place at all," the statement read.

With boarding places remaining limited, the Ministry urged applicants to apply only to schools they are genuinely interested in.

"Government has enough Form One day-school vacancies for every learner, so parents are advised to have alternative day-school arrangements in place," the Ministry added.

As competition for top boarding schools heats up, parents and guardians are encouraged to apply early and ensure all submitted information is accurate to avoid disqualification or loss of placement.