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NewsDay

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Confusion over Dokora’s e-enrolment system

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They said e-enrolment was causing many challenges to them, with the ministry website slow to respond.

Many parents are complaining about the e-enrolment system introduced by Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora saying it is causing a lot of confusion, as they are failing to get Form 1 places for their children at their preferred schools.

BY NUNURAI JENA

Parents, who spoke to NewsDay said it was surprising that many schools were already indicating that Form 1 places had been filled, questioning the transparency of the whole exercise.

They said e-enrolment was causing many challenges to them, with the ministry website slow to respond.

Some said they were computer-illiterate forcing them to pay for extra services at internet cafés.

Internet cafes in Chinhoyi have hiked their fees due to the high demand from parents, who are technologically challenged.

An hour that is usually pegged at $1, now costs up to $2 since Monday.

A parent, Benjamin Dlodlo, whose daughter scored four units at Grade 7, wanted her child to go to Moleli High School, but places were already full, according to the information obtained on the internet.

“The whole exercise is too cumbersome. Remember some of us are not that good with computers and this has forced us to go to internet cafés where we are charged $2 for an hour and it takes time to complete the required information,” he said.

“After that lengthy period, you are told that the school Form 1 places are filled up.”

Some parents in Mhangura said they were unsure about what they were supposed to do to find places for their children.

Parents in other cities and towns such as Harare were also reportedly facing similar challenges.

Some schools have reportedly called parents to come physically after encountering serious problems with the new enrolment system.

Dokora could not be reached for comment yesterday.