Legislators on Tuesday implored the Government to reduce the 2022 Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) examination fees announced last week, arguing that they were unaffordable to some parents and guardians.
The issue was raised as a matter of national interest in the National Assembly by Chiwundura MP Livingstone Chimina (ZANU PF). He said:
The examination fees announced by ZIMSEC are against the students from poor backgrounds because they will not be able to afford the fees due to economic hardships. The Constitution provides for basic education.
The fees were pegged in foreign currency while the citizens’ earnings are not pegged in foreign currency, but in local currency.
It is my view that examination fees must be charged in local currency and must be reviewed downwards.
In response, Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda said, “The issue has been overtaken by the petition we have received and the committee is looking into the matter.”
According to the ZIMSEC 2022 examinations fees structure, Grade 6 pupils would pay an examination fee of US$11 per term.
Grade pupils will pay US$22 per term while Ordinary and Advanced Level students would pay US$24 and US$48 per subject, respectively.
ZIMSEC said parents and guardians will pay the fees at the prevailing interbank rate, as of 22 July 2022.
Meanwhile, the Government said it would contribute a 55% subsidy for government, local authority and non-profit mission school students.
However, learners at private schools would pay the full fees.
When the government subsidy is factored in, parents and guardians will pay US$5 for Grade 6 per term, US$10 for Grade 7 per term, US$11 per O’ Level subject and US$22 per A’ Level subject.
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Not quite a well thought out appeal. How will the markers be paid after marking.? A service must pay for itself, that’s the first rule of basic financial prudence. Populism will continue to disadvantage students whose results will not be released because teachers refuse to mark due to poor marking fees. Simple reasoning will articulate a break even exam fee where markers’ needs are met timeously. That is how exams are managed all over the world.
Leave education administrators to work a break even position than pitching an appeal with no support evidence.