Free 2027 eMAP School Selection Worksheet – Compare 15 Boarding Schools

Why You Should Research More Than Five Schools

Every year, thousands of Zimbabwean parents use the eMAP platform to apply for Form One boarding school places for their children.

One of the challenges we regularly encounter in our OpenClass parent communities is that some parents only begin researching schools when applications have already opened.

They may know the names of a few popular boarding schools but have little information about their fees, locations, admission requirements or whether they would be suitable for their children.

Another common problem is not knowing the province or district where a preferred school is located. Since eMAP requires parents to select these details when searching for schools, this can lead to unnecessary confusion.

Under the rules used for the previous intake, parents could apply to a maximum of five boarding schools at a time.

However, being allowed to apply to five schools does not mean you should only research five schools.

We recommend researching at least 10 to 15 schools before deciding which five to apply to.

This gives you an opportunity to compare different options and identify alternatives should your initial applications be unsuccessful.

Introducing the Free OpenClass eMAP School Selection Worksheet

To make this process easier, we have prepared a free, printable eMAP School Selection Worksheet for parents preparing for Form One boarding applications.

The worksheet is designed to help you gather and organise important school information before submitting your applications.

What Is Included in the Worksheet?

1. Space to Research 15 Boarding Schools

Record the names of up to 15 schools you are considering for your child.

2. Province and District Information

Make a note of where each school is located so that you can find it more easily when selecting schools on eMAP.

3. School Fees and Previous Grade 7 Cut-off Units

Compare the financial requirements and available information about previous admission cut-offs. Remember that previous cut-offs do not guarantee admission in a new intake.

4. Space for Comments and Observations

Record information gathered from school visits, conversations with other parents, school profiles or direct enquiries.

For example, you may want to note the school's boarding conditions, academic performance, discipline, distance from home or suitability for your child's interests and abilities.

5. Your Final Five-School Shortlist

After researching your options, use the worksheet to identify the five schools you would genuinely be comfortable with your child attending.

The remaining schools can serve as alternatives if you need to reconsider your choices and the application rules permit it.

Download Your Free eMAP School Selection Worksheet

The worksheet is completely free. You can download it, print it and complete it as you research different boarding schools.

The current edition has been prepared for the 2027 Form One intake. We intend to update this resource for future admission years.

You are welcome to share the worksheet with other parents who may find it useful.

Where Can You Find Information to Complete the eMAP school selection worksheet?

You do not have to rely on guesswork when researching boarding schools.

1. Search for Schools on OpenClass

Visit www.openclass.co.zw and search for the schools you are interested in.

Our school profiles contain useful information such as locations, fees, contact details, academic performance and other details, where available.

2. Ask Other Parents in Our WhatsApp Groups

Our parent communities bring together people from different parts of Zimbabwe who regularly share information about schools.

If you are unsure about a school's location, fees, boarding conditions or general reputation, you can ask other parents for their experiences.

Join Our OpenClass WhatsApp Parent Groups

3. Join Our Facebook Parent Community

Our Facebook group is another useful platform for asking questions, reading school discussions and getting recommendations from other parents.

Join Our Facebook Group – Zim Boarding Schools Information and Updates

We encourage parents to verify important details directly with the school, particularly fees, admission requirements and boarding availability, as these can change.

Important Advice Before Applying on eMAP

Researching schools early is important, but so is making realistic choices.

Consider your child's academic performance, your budget, the distance from home and the type of school environment you would prefer.

Avoid choosing five highly competitive schools simply because they are popular. Consider a reasonable range of schools that suit your child's circumstances.

Also remember that selecting schools on eMAP does not guarantee admission. The final allocation of places depends on the applicable admission requirements and available places.

For a detailed explanation of the application process, including registration, selecting schools and checking application status, read our guide:

How to Apply for Form One Boarding School Places on eMAP in Zimbabwe

Start Preparing Before Applications Open

Our advice to parents is simple: do not wait until eMAP opens to begin researching schools.

Download the eMAP school selection worksheet, identify suitable schools, gather the necessary information and discuss the options with your child.

When the application period arrives, you will be in a much better position to make informed decisions.

Download your free worksheet today and share it with other parents preparing for Form One boarding applications.

Prepared by OpenClass – Helping Zimbabwean parents make informed school choices