Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s Electronic Ministry Application Platform (eMAP) went live on Friday last week, opening the door for parents and guardians to begin applying for 2027 Form One boarding school places.
The Ministry said applications will run until December 31, 2026, giving parents and guardians nearly two months to submit applications for their children’s preferred boarding schools.
Through the digital platform, applicants can select up to three boarding schools, complete learner details and track the progress of their applications without having to physically visit individual schools.
In a brief comment on the Ministry’s social media platform, spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro urged parents and guardians to approach the application process carefully, particularly when selecting schools, warning that declining an offer could result in the permanent loss of that opportunity.
“Parents and guardians must be very deliberate when choosing their three schools. Do not apply to schools that you are not prepared to accept simply because you are hoping to secure a place at another institution. Once a school offers your child a place and you decline that offer, you forfeit it completely. There is no guarantee that the offer will be reinstated,” said Ndoro.
He warned parents against declining offers while waiting for places at their preferred schools, saying such a decision could leave learners without boarding places.
“Parents must appreciate that boarding places are limited. If you decline an offer from a school while waiting for your preferred institution, that school may fill its available places before your application is considered. You could ultimately lose the offer you had and also fail to secure a place at the school you were waiting for,” he said.
He said once a learner accepts an offer from one school, applications to the other schools automatically cease to be considered as the system processes the remaining applications.
“Parents and guardians can access the platform through www.emap.co.zw, where they can create an account or log into an existing one, complete the application form with accurate learner and school details, and select up to three boarding schools,” said the Ministry.
The Ministry said the platform provides four application status categories: Pending, Accepted, Processed and Rejected. Parents are encouraged to regularly monitor their applications to keep track of developments.
Successful applicants will receive SMS notifications through the respective school heads.
The eMAP initiative is part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to leverage digital technology to improve access, transparency and efficiency in the administration of education services.
