The Ministry of Education is all geared up to implement the school zoning system from this year.
According to the ministry, school zoning is catchment areas or boundaries for schools at different levels indicating students’ residences that are located two kilometers away from the school.
The objectives of school zoning are:
-To create the necessary conditions for achieving universal primary and secondary education.
-To promote the equitable distribution of educational benefits within and between different communities, regions and populations.
-To improve all aspects of the quality of education to ensure measurable learning outcomes are achieved, especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills and
-To optimise the efficient use of existing capital, human and financial resources.
Deputy secretary for education, Mr Josefa Sania said the school zoning was going to be implemented in Class One and Form Three for urban schools.
“The ministry is fully prepared for the implementation of the school zoning this year because of government approval in April last year. Cabinet has approved that it be implemented for urban schools first at the beginning of the school year. It is going to be implemented in Class One in primary schools and Form Three in secondary schools,” Mr Sania said.
He also highlighted that parents, who wanted to send their children to a school of their preference, were free to do so.
However, there must be space for these students in these schools.
“Our stand on this issue is that we’ve discussed this with most school managements and some parents that raised their concerns. Our response to this is that if schools have places for these children, parents can send their children to these schools outside the school zone, which is of their preference, provided there are places for them in schools,” Mr Sania said.
“In some cases when schools have met the entire intake in terms of the enrolment scheme and if there are spaces still left for students to come in, then this is fair. These students can go to these schools, provided there are places for them there.”
The Deputy Secretary also emphasized that those parents who wish to send their children to schools outside the 2 km home zone will have to pay for their children’s bus fare themselves.
“We are providing bus fares to students who are residing within the school zone, that is, the two km radius or the first stage only.”
“And if parents want to send their children outside the school zone, then they are free to do so and they can pay their bus fares.”
Mr Sania also said that if residence is located where there is overlapping of school zones, parents may send their children to a school closest to their home and if that school is full then the child should be sent to the next school within that zone.
“And if all schools within the home zone are full, parents may send their children to a school outside their home zone provided the principal has a place in that school for the child. Students who do not have a school within the 2 km home zone may apply for a place in a school outside their home zone,” Mr Sania said.
“If students cannot find a place outside their home zones, the Ministry of Education will place the students in a school close to their home or in a government boarding school.”
He also clarified the school zoning was implemented only for students, not teachers.
“The school zoning will only apply for students because they are residing within the zone, which is within a 2km radius from the school. Those teachers living in the school compound, there’s no problem in that but teachers, who are residing in urban areas, will have to travel to the school,” Mr Sania said.
The school zoning policy will be reviewed after one year.
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