Some of the Zimbabwean children repatriated from South Africa since last month will not be able to sit their exams at the end of the year.
More than 11,000 children have been forced to leave South Africa with their parents and guardians in the past few weeks because of xenophobia in the neighbouring country.
Grade 12 pupils will miss their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, which are due at the end of the year.
Edward Muchatuta, national coordinator of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) Coordinating Committee, has called on the Zimbabwean government to make arrangements with the South African government so the children can continue with their lessons under the South African syllabus.
He said Grade 10 and 11 pupils have spent more than 11 years following South Africa’s CAPS curriculum, including South African languages.
It is impossible, he said, to move them into the Zimbabwean curriculum and prepare them for final exams in less than three years.
“Children arriving from South Africa now are not eligible to transition to Form 1. The same disruption is affecting other grades,” he said.
In a statement released last week, Muchatuta said there have been 62,816 cumulative self-repatriations so far. Of those, 11,090 are children — 5,373 boys and 5,717 girls.
He said lessons for the affected children should continue through e-learning. The ZEP Committee has enough teachers to support the programme, he added.
Obert Masaraure, president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), called on the Government to design a standardised grading and bridging system for the returning students.
“Many pupils currently in Grade 12 in South Africa are registered to write their final NSC examinations in November 2026, and yet these pupils are being pulled out of school due to the forced deportation of their parents and guardians,” said Masaraure.
“We ask, how will they prepare and sit for these critical exams if forced to relocate now?
“Without intervention, a 19-year-old in Grade 11 will only complete high school at age 22 or 23. This robs them of years and opportunity.”
One affected parent, who asked not to be named, said that although his son may still be able to sit the NSC in South Africa, the ongoing disturbances have severely disrupted his exam preparations.
“Currently, we are still in South Africa, and my job is still safe, but I don’t know what will happen in a few months. My son, who is in Grade 12, is set to write his exams this year,” she said.
“He is going to school, but there is a lot of uncertainty. His friends are always asking if he is still here.
“He is afraid that one day he will meet the people marching, be harassed by the police, or anything. This has greatly affected his preparations.
“Going back will set him back another 2 years to be reintegrated into the school system.
“Government should establish a few centres in each town around Zimbabwe to allow the children a smooth transition.”
More: Masvingo Mirror
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