The government, through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, says it will tighten its rules on the number of subjects students can take at both Ordinary Level and Advanced Level in 2026.
Under the new rules, O-level candidates will be allowed to register for a maximum of nine subjects. A-level students will be limited to the standard three subjects.
Speaking to Sunday News, the Ministry’s Director of Communication and Advocacy, Taungana Ndoro, said the move aims to help students gain a deeper understanding of key subjects and enhance their skills.
He added that limiting subject numbers will also help prevent pupils from becoming overwhelmed by heavy academic workloads. Said Ndoro:
“The Ministry has already implemented a strict cap. This decisive move aims to promote profound understanding and competency in core learning areas, prevent pupil burnout from excessive academic loads and align all schools and learners with a standardised, manageable curriculum framework.
“We align this with tertiary expectations to meet the standard entry requirements of universities and colleges, both locally and internationally.
“Our focus now is on ensuring compliance and supporting schools and learners in achieving excellence within this structured framework.”
In Zimbabwe, universities usually require a maximum of 15 points at A-level for entry into most degree programmes.
To get onto A-level, students need at least five O-level passes, and some courses also have specific subject requirements.
The comments from Ndoro came after a public debate started when Mukudzei Ziveyi (pictured), a student from Pamushana High School in Masvingo Province, scored 56 points in the 2025 A-level exams after taking 12 subjects.
Ziveyi said he had long nights studying for all 12 subjects, with only 15-minute breaks between exams.
To make sure exams didn’t clash, the school asked the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) for a timetable change to allow a smoother transition from one exam to the next.
Some people in education argued that taking so many subjects was unnecessarily stressful, and could create a culture where students try to take more than they really need.
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