Wednesday, May 7, 2008

ZIMSEC may fail to hold June exams

By Vusumuzi Sifile

THE Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has not started registration for the May/June Ordinary and Advanced Level public examinations, raising fears the exams will not take place at all.


This has been worsened by the ongoing post election violence, which has forced many teachers not to return to their schools.

ZIMSEC and Ministry of Education officials were last week reluctant to discuss the issue with The Standard.

In past years, the May/June examinations were held from the end of May to the beginning of June. Registration for the exams was normally in February and March, and by the time schools open for the second term, students would have received statements of entry.

But with three weeks before the exams begin, ZIMSEC is still to come with examination fees.

“In the past, around this time we would have received statements of entry, but this year, students have not even been registered. As it is now, there are no indications whatsoever that the examinations will take off in a few weeks time,” said a headmaster at a Harare school.

ZIMSEC spokesperson; Ezekiel Pasipamire was last week said to be out of office. But an official who refused to reveal his name confirmed “it’s still not clear whether the examinations will be held this year”.

“We have not yet come up with the examination fee schedule for this year. This does not mean that the exams have been cancelled. Once the fees have been confirmed, we will advise the different examination centres,” said the official.

Another official at the Public relations Department, after confirming they were “also not sure what is going to happen”, requested that questions be faxed. She had not responded at the time of going to press.

Since taking over the administration of exams from the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate over five years ago, ZIMSEC has been accused of compromising on some key examination standards.

On many occasions, there have been complaints from students that they received results for subjects they never set exams for. There have also been instances when students have not been given their certificates on time, jeopardising their plans to advance their careers.

The Secretary General of the militant Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), Raymond Majongwe said even if ZIMSEC were to announce the new examination fees, there were no teachers at schools to administer the exams.

“Right now I am with scores of teachers who have been forced to flee from Guruve by marauding Zanu PF militias. There are no teachers at schools because of the current crisis. As a union, we are going to call for a national strike in solidarity with our colleagues who have been harassed,” said Majongwe.

Education permanent secretary, Stephen Mahere, was said to be in meetings when The Standard solicited his comment. Officials at his office referred questions to one Bora in the Quality Control department. Bora said: “I have just arrived today (Friday), I don’t know anything yet”.
First published in The Standard on 4 May 2008.

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