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Mrs Sylvia Utete-Masango

Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
HIGH schools have started cancelling entrance tests for 2017 Form One pupils after Government warned them against the practice as Grade Seven public examination results must be used when enrolling.

One of the schools, Minda High School in Maphisa, Matabeleland South, yesterday said entrance tests that had been slated for August 27 had been cancelled.

The school had previously asked pupils to come for the entrance examinations with Grade Six end of year results, Grade Seven mid-year results and certified copies of birth certificates.

“All those who are interested in enrolling at Minda High School for 2017 should apply in person in December after the publishing of the Grade 7 results,” the school said in the latest notice announcing the cancellation of the entrance tests.

Sources yesterday said Inyathi High School in Bubi District and St Columbus in Bulawayo had also decided to wait for Grade Seven results to enrol.

This move by the schools follows the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs Sylvia Utete-Masango’s directive last week in which she said it was illegal for schools to conduct entrance tests before the Grade Seven final examination results are out.

“It’s government policy that schools should go by the Grade Seven public examination results for them to offer Form One places. Selection should be done on the basis of these results not the entrance tests that they’re conducting at their schools.

“All the schools that have conducted or are planning to conduct entrance tests are going against government policy. They must cancel the entrance tests and wait for the Grade Seven results. We’ll follow up through our structures and make sure that our provincial education directors monitor their schools,” said Mrs Utete-Masango.

The directive came at a time when secondary schools in most parts of the country had started conducting the tests.

On August 5, John Tallach High School in Matabeleland North conducted entrance tests in a move that was condemned by parents.

The school, which had the best 2015 Ordinary Level public examination results in Matabeleland North province, invited more than 1 000 pupils who each paid $5 for the tests, yet it can only cater for less than 150 pupils at Form One. — @winnie_masara