Defer ZIMSEC End Of Year Exams – Parliamentarians

Parliamentarians have urged the government to defer ZIMSEC end of year exams to next year following an upsurge in schools that are being disrupted by students testing positive for the novel coronavirus, the Daily News reports.

MSU, CUT, Chinhoyi High, John Tallach, Girls College, Matopos High have all recorded COVID-19 cases and some had to close to contain the virus. This has prompted parliamentarians to recommend that exams be deferred till next year for this reason and the other obvious reason that teachers went back to work this week after 2 months since schools opened.

Parliamentary Portfolio on education chaired by Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga stated that:

Due to the teachers’ strike, little learning and revision have taken place, hence the dates for examinations (December 5, 2020) is no longer feasible in such circumstances.

The committee recommends that the ministry should reconsider progressing with examinations from the 5th of December 2020 and defer them to February 2021.

The government and teacher unions should expedite salary negotiations and find a lasting solution on the matter to avoid further dilapidation of the education sector by end of November.

Alternative methods of learning used by the government disadvantaged disabled learners,” said the committee.

It also called on the government to present before Parliament a “proper plan” that articulates how disadvantaged children will be assisted by the end of November.

Alternative methods of learning should be comprehensive and inclusive of every learner, including the disadvantaged and vulnerable learners.

Modern gadgets for learners such as tablets and laptops should be budgeted for in the 2021 National Budget, and these should be distributed to rural schools by June 2021.

The government has said suspending ZIMSEC Exams will cripple tertiary education institutions next year. Year-end examinations are scheduled to start on 1 December for all writing classes with O level exams spilling into next year.

More: Daily News 

Download the Pindula App for a better user experience.