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Relief Drivers x8

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Director General (Harare)

The Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC) says it is ready to announce the dates for the 2021 public examinations and is only waiting for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to give the nod.
This comes after Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said their Ministry will conduct an assessment on the preparedness of learners, whose outcome will inform deliberations on specific dates for this year’s public examinations.
The Ministry has modified the syllabus to allow some teaching to be compressed.
Speaking to Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN), ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicky Dlamini said they were awaiting communication from the Government regarding dates. Said Dhlamini:
<blockquote>
We are on track, once the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education gives us direction, we will be able to then announce exam dates.
</blockquote>
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president, Takavafira Zhou called for a postponement of the examinations to next year. He said:
<blockquote>
We need three months of uninterrupted time of learning in order to cover the time lost through the lockdown.
If you put that it means there is no way that examinations can be written in 2021.
The only possible way is to write exams around mid-January to February next year.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) president, Richard Gundane, said exams could only be written when teachers had completed each syllabus.
Schools reopened for examination classes on 30 September and non-exam classes on 6 September amid concerns that learners will not be prepared to sit for public examinations this year, especially considering that the term ends on 17 December 2021.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/preparedness-to-determine-exam-dates/">The Herald</a></h4>

Pindula News

ZIMSEC 'On Track' To Announce Examination Dates

The government does not anticipate any changes to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) public examinations schedule following disruption to the school calendar caused by the COVID-19, an official has said.
Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro on Thursday said they will continue monitoring the situation in schools. Said Ndoro:
<blockquote>
We will announce in due course after deliberations to see what is on the ground whether there might be changes or no need for changes.
</blockquote>
Examination classes were ordered to recommence on 30 August while the rest of the grades will be back in school on 6 September. Schools will close on 17 December.
Several unions representing teachers have been calling for the postponement of the examinations to next year arguing that pupils were not prepared for the examinations.
ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicky Dlamini also said they were waiting for the Ministry of Education to give guidance on the way forward. She said:
<blockquote>
We are waiting for the ministry to give guidance on when the syllabus is going to be completed and assessed. At the moment there is no change in the examination timetable.
</blockquote>
The government has agreed to provide a 55% subsidy on examination fees for candidates at public and mission schools.
The subsidy, however, was restricted to seven subjects at Ordinary Level and up to three for Advanced Level.
The deadline for normal entries was 9 July, with 30 July set as the deadline for late entries.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/09/no-changes-to-zimsec-nov-exam-schedule-govt/">NewsDay</a></h4>

ZIMSEC November Examinations Schedule Unchanged - Govt

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has postponed its end of semester examinations, which had been scheduled to start on 30 August.
The postponement comes after the government extended the current Level Four COVID-19 lockdown by an additional two weeks, which was announced on Tuesday by Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
In a statement on Wednesday, the institution’s registrar Snikiwe Gwatidzo said the reopening will depend on the Government’s position on academic activity. The statement read:
<blockquote>
Notice is hereby given that following the extension of level 4 National Lockdown by Government on 24 August 2021, examinations that had been set to commence on the 30th of August 2021 have been further deferred to a later date.
Please be advised that examinations will commence on the Monday which follows the lifting of the lockdown.
In the meantime, students are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated and prepare for the examinations.
Information pertaining to any changes will be posted on the University website: <a href="https://www.gzu.ac.zw/">www.gzu.ac.zw</a>.
Please remember to always mask up, sanitise, wash your hands, and practice social distancing.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Great Zimbabwe University Postpones Exams Indefinitely

Teachers’ unions want the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) to defer the November 2021 public examinations to 2022 following disruption of the school calendar by the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Speaking to NewsDay on Monday, Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said it would be irresponsible for authorities to frog-march students into examinations given the disruptions they have experienced. Said Zhou:
<blockquote>
The possibility of 2021 candidates writing examinations this year is minimal. With schools likely to open from mid-September 2021, examinations can only be written in early 2022 after three months of intensive learning. Such learning requires motivation for teachers.
</blockquote>
Zhou also called on the government to pay teachers salaries at par with other government employees such as members of the military and the police considering that teachers spent years in colleges and universities. He said:
<blockquote>
They must be given better salaries so that they work harder to protect the education system from going into dysfunctionality.
Government should address the disparities between teachers and the rest of civil servants, where an underqualified ordinary government worker is earning more than a trained teacher.
</blockquote>
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president Obert Masaraure suggested that examinations be postponed to March next year. He said:
<blockquote>
If our examinations are for genuine performance evaluation, they should be postponed until our learners have covered the syllabus.
March 2022 will be ideal for examinations to cater for lost learning time. We should desist from the tick-the-box mentality and focus on genuinely evaluating learner exit profiles.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe National Teachers’ Union chief executive Manuel Nyawo said public examinations should be postponed to “February next year to give learners ample time to learn and grasp concepts for their current grades and forms”.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu also said the postponement of examinations would be ideal. Ndlovu said:
<blockquote>
Apart from the writing of the examinations, we are urging the government to consider postponing the implementation of the continuous assessment learning areas (CALAs) programme so that learners and teachers intensively focus on completing the outstanding areas of the syllabi and be ready for the 2021 examinations.
Implementation of the CALA programme is a hurried decision which disrupts proper learning in schools.
</blockquote>
Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said the government was yet to get recommendations from ZIMSEC on the way forward.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/08/no-to-public-examinations-this-year/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Teachers Want ZIMSEC Nov. 2021 Examinations Deferred To 2022

GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level candidates that intend to sit for the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) November 2021 session and had missed the deadline can still register until 30 July.
ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicky Dlamini said normal registration closed on Friday last week and the late registration window is to ensure that all candidates get an opportunity to register and write the examinations. Said Dlamini:
<blockquote>For normal registration we are now closed, however, late registration will continue until the 30th of July 2021.
That is the only time that we will be able to have statistics of those that have registered.</blockquote>
ZIMSEC set the late registration fee at ZWL$1 978.00 per subject for O’ Level candidates, while A’ Level candidates will have to fork out ZWL$2 952.00 for a regular subject and ZWL$2 496.00 for Communication Skills.
<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zimsec-november-o-and-a-level-examination-fees-deadlines/">READ MORE: ZIMSEC November O And A Level Examination Fees &amp; Deadlines</a>
Dlamini said ZIMSEC did not have the actual statistics of candidates that will sit for the examinations following COVID-19 disturbances but would be able to collate data at the close of the late registration period.
The June 2021 Zimsec public examinations for both Ordinary and Advanced Levels were suspended by Cabinet following disruptions caused by COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown.
Those who had wanted to sit in June will now sit for the November 2021 session.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/late-registration-on-zimsec/">The Sunday News</a></h4>

ZIMSEC Opens Window For Late Registration

40% to 50% of learners in Matabeleland North Province that are supposed to sit for the 2021 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examinations are failing to register, it has emerged.
Matabeleland North provincial education director Jabulani Mpofu told Southern Eye that there had been very low registration turnout by learners in the province for the November “O” Level examinations, even as the deadline was drawing nearer. Said Mpofu:
<blockquote>In Matabeleland North, only 40% to 50% of students have managed to register, which is way too low compared to the total number of students that are expected to actually sit for the examination.
The deadline for registration is July 9. There is nothing that we can do to help those who can’t afford to pay for their exam registration because it’s something that needs to be looked at by the government.</blockquote>
The government recently increased examination fees for both “O” and “A” levels to $5 194 for seven “O” level subjects and $3 240 for three “A” subjects and the fees are beyond the reach of the majority of villagers.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/High_Schools_Of_Zimbabwe">Here is a list of High Schools in Zimbabwe, by Province.</a></li>
</ul>
In 2020, more than 15 000 examination candidates failed to register, and the situation is expected to be worse this year.
Meanwhile, last week, teachers’ unions urged Treasury to release $2,9 billion and allocate it towards ZIMSEC examination fees saying that parents could not afford the new charges due to the effects of COVID-19.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/07/only-50-students-register-for-nov-o-level-exams-in-mat-north/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Only 50% Of Form 4 Students Register For ZIMSEC Exams In Mat North

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has written to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) requesting an extension of the registration deadline for the 2021 GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations to allow candidates to obtain their national identity cards. ZLHR said in a statement:
<blockquote>We have written to ZIMSEC requesting for an extension of the registration deadline for the 2021 O &amp; A Level examinations to allow candidates to obtain their national identity cards.
We have also asked ZIMSEC to consider waiving the requirement that candidates sitting for the 2021 O &amp; A Level examinations produce their ID’s and for purposes of identity verification, schools can have recourse to their school identification cards.
Lastly, our lawyer Tinashe Chinox has asked for assurance from ZIMSEC that learners who failed to obtain their national ID’s through no fault of their own, will be allowed to register and sit for their examinations subject to the identity verifications we have proposed.</blockquote>
Tens of thousands of students in all parts of the country who are set to sit for public examinations in November this year do not have IDs that are required for them to register for the examinations.
The government <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/06/26/govt-suspends-special-national-id-registration-exercise-for-students/">cancelled a special exercise by the Civil Registry Department</a> to allow the students to acquire national identification documents <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/06/24/registry-offices-to-open-this-weekend-to-allow-o-and-a-level-students-acquire-ids/">on Saturday, 26 June and Sunday, 27 June 2021</a> due to COVID-19 fears.
In May, <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/05/21/zimsec-november-o-and-a-level-examination-fees-deadlines/">ZIMSEC said the deadline for normal registration</a> is 9 July 2021 and for late entries is 30 July 2021.
However, late entries attract fines of ZWL$1 978.00 per subject for O’ Level students, while A’ Level students will pay ZWL$2 952.00 per subject for late registration.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Lawyers Push For 2021 O & A Level Exams Registration Deadline Extension

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has failed to pay teachers who marked the 2020 “O” Level and “A” Level examinations.
Markers who spoke to NewsDay said that they are owed $35 000 each and the examinations body intended to raise the money from examination fees <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/05/21/zimsec-november-o-and-a-level-examination-fees-deadlines/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">which were increased by 1 000 per cent a fortnight ago.</a>
One of the markers told the publication that ZIMSEC informed them that it will stagger the payments. The marker was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>I made inquiries with them and they told me that they didn’t have money at the moment. They said when they start paying, they are going to stagger the payments. Most of us are owed $35 000 each.</blockquote>
ZIMSEC board chairperson Eddie Mwenje, however, said the markers should have been paid by now as they discussed the issue a fortnight ago. He said:
<blockquote>We discussed the matter two weeks ago. You know they are paid after results are out. We published the results some weeks ago and I think they have been paid. I haven’t had any problems with that.</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/05/21/zimsec-november-o-and-a-level-examination-fees-deadlines/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ZIMSEC November O And A Level Examination Fees &amp; Deadlines</a></li>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/05/25/mdc-a-demand-urgent-review-of-o-a-level-exam-fees-full-statement/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">MDC-A Demand Urgent Review Of O &amp; A Level Exam Fees {Full Statement}</a></li>
</ul>
Teachers unions, among them the Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (ZINATU) and Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) on Monday castigated the government, accusing it of being insensitive to the plight of teachers. PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou said:
<blockquote>The money Zimsec uses to pay markers must never be drawn from learners or candidates, but the national budgetary allocation.
It would be irresponsible for Zimsec to benchmark its operations on the payment of exam fees by pupils.
The State must ensure Zimsec operates smoothly, and protect its credibility as a national education examining body.</blockquote>
A fortnight ago, the government set examination fees for the November examinations at ZWL$1 648.00 per subject for Ordinary Level and ZWL$2 400.00 per subject for Advanced Level.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/06/zimsec-markers-demand-outstanding-allowances/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewsDay</a></h4>

ZIMSEC Fails To Pay 2020 Examinations Markers

Some educationists who spoke to ZBC News commended the government for cancelling the ZIMSEC 2021 June Ordinary and Advanced level examinations as a result of disruptions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Wednesday Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists in Harare that Cabinet had approved the suspension of the ZIMSEC June O and A level examinations following disruptions of the school calendar as a result of the pandemic.
Tapera Chikandiwa, an educationist, said the cancellation of the examinations will reduce pressure on the examination body since sitting of public examinations at the end of last year was delayed by the pandemic. Said Chikandiwa:
<blockquote>The move by the government is welcome since it will help to decongest the Zimsec marking system.</blockquote>
Another renowned educationist, Cleopas Kundiona said the Cabinet decision to suspend the examinations is a good move since the whole education sector was greatly affected by the coronavirus.
Schools were reopened on 15 March, more than two months after the date initially set by the government had passed.
<a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/suspension-of-june-exams-good-move-educationists/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">More: ZBC News</a>

Educationists Welcome Cancellation Of ZIMSEC June 2021 'O' And 'A' Level Exams

The government has suspended the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) June 2021 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations due to disruptions to the school calendar caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The development was announced by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet briefing in Harare. She said:
<blockquote>Cabinet considered and approved a request for the suspension of the Zimsec June 2021 Ordinary and Advanced Level Examination Session, which was presented by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Cain Mathema).
Cabinet was advised that the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 had negatively impacted the timing and cycle of public examinations, with the 2020 Grade 7, O-level and A-level examinations having commenced in early December 2020 and ended in early February 2021, instead of the usual period stretching from October to November of each year.
The delay in writing and the marking of the previous examinations has affected the preparation and the setting of the next examination hence the decision to temporarily suspend the June 2021 examinations.
This suspension of the June 2021 examination session will allow for timely focus on the November examination preparations and aid an effective focus of resources.</blockquote>
Minister Mutsvangwa said the government will make arrangements to ensure that candidates who wanted to write in June are accommodated in November.

Govt Suspends ZIMSEC June 2021 Exams

88 Primary schools in Zimbabwe reportedly recorded a 0% pass rate in the just-published ZIMSEC Grade 7 examination results.
This was revealed in a document by the examinations board that showed the following statistics:
<ol>
<li>14 of the schools with 0% pass rate have less than 10 candidates who sate for the examinations.</li>
<li> 45 schools had 100% pass rate.</li>
<li>31 out of the 88 schools with 0% pass rate are from Matabeleland Districts while the rest are from 8 of the country’s other provinces.</li>
</ol>
According to ZIMSEC board Chair Professor Eddie Mwenje, the 2020 pass <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/updated-grade-7-results-out-pass-rate-falls-by-9-79-per-cent/">rate fell by 9.79%</a> as he gave the statistics s of the subjects that did well and said:
<blockquote>The 2020 national pass rate is 37,11 percent, which is lower than the 2019 national pass rate, which was 46,9 percent. This translates to a decrease of 9,79 percent.
Like in 2019, indigenous languages, again, recorded high subject pass rates when compared to performances in English, Mathematics, Agriculture and General Paper
While the pass rate in Shona, Ndebele, Nambya, Tshivenda, Xichangana and Kalanga were above 65 percent, Sesotho and Tonga were at 54,62 and 52,38 percent respectively</blockquote>
The grade sevens were in school for less than 5 months due to the ongoing ravaging COVID-19 pandemic before they had to sit for their end of year examinations which also marks the end of their primary school education.
<a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Zimbabwegrade7passrates-A4.pdf">Zimbabwegrade7passrates A4</a>

88 Primary Schools Record 0% Pass Rate -

A government official has said pupils who arrive late for Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examinations because of transport challenges that have been exacerbated by current lockdown measures will be allowed to write their tests.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Communications and Advocacy director, Taungana Ndoro told State media that latecomers will be accommodated in other rooms to write their examinations without having contact with those who might have started on time. Ndoro said:
<blockquote>There were challenges on Tuesday but we quickly acted on it and all the candidates who wanted to write were given the opportunity.
There are instances when the exam starts at 8 am ending at 10 am for example, so if you are late the invigilators will make arrangements that you write without mixing with those who have already started.
There might be rare instances of those coming after the exam is finished. ZIMSEC officials and invigilators on the ground will assess and assist genuine cases.</blockquote>
Form Four and Form Six candidates started going to school for the exams earlier this week as they failed to complete the November 2020 examinations which started late (on 1 December last year) due to coronavirus restrictions.
Schools were initially scheduled to open for the 2021 First Term on 4 January but this was postponed due to a combination of Tropical Storm Chalane and a resurgent coronavirus.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/o-and-a-level-exams-ministry-accommodates-latecomers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Latecomers To Be Allowed To Write ZIMSEC Exams

The 2020 November Ordinary Level examinations will resume on Tuesday and will be completed on 5 February.
The government said it will use the final O’ Level examinations to assess the safety of schoolchildren from the coronavirus, before announcing the dates for reopening of schools for all Forms and Grades.
Last week the government indefinitely postponed reopening of schools for the First Term, which was due to start on 4 January 2021 (tomorrow).
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Communications and Advocacy Director, Taungana Ndoro, revealed that the government moved away from the initial calendar to ensure more measures were put in place for preparation of schools opening. He said:
<blockquote>The whole logic behind the deferment of schools opening was to decongest classrooms and to give school heads time to come up with alternative infrastructure.
It was impossible to have two classes of the same form but different years at the same school at the same time, for instance, it was impossible to have this year’s Form Fours together with last year’s Form Fours at the same time.
When we opened under Phase one, these were the examination classes, we managed to contain the situation. However, the problem started when the other phases started coming back to school.
And most of the affected were boarding schools so we want to ensure that there is decongestion in schools.</blockquote>
Ndoro added that school heads have been instructed to identify and rehabilitate alternative spaces which can be used as classrooms or dormitories. Ndoro said:
<blockquote>We need to decongest the classes and have additional infrastructure so schools have been instructed to use every space available, be it basketball or tennis courts and be turned into classrooms and halls can be used as dormitories wherever possible.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/o-level-exams-resume/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunday News</a></h4>

O' Level Examinations Resume

Some Ordinary Level students in Zimbabwe are alleged to have failed to write the Agriculture Paper One examination on Tuesday after a mix up on one of the timetables.
According to the master time-table, the Agriculture Paper One was scheduled for Tuesday, but the candidates’ statements of entry indicated the paper was set for January 15 2020.
Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) director Lazarus Nembaware admitted that there was an error but said no students missed the examination. He said:
<blockquote>The standard operating procedure is that if there is a conflict between what appears on the statement of entry, candidates should follow the timetable.
Candidates who wrote Agriculture started to go to their centres from the first of December so they were able to see the timetable at their centres.
So I will be very much surprised where a candidate says that they failed to write because I was reading my statement of entry and not the timetable.</blockquote>
Earlier this month there was another mix up on maps used in the Geography Paper One examination, but ZIMSEC maintains the problem was timeously rectified. Said Nembaware:
<blockquote>Schools that discovered that there were no maps for the Geography examination earlier communicated and they were supplied.
For those who realized it on the day of the examination, they did one of the following; they allowed the examination to continue while the maps were being given to them by our ZIMSEC regional managers or they quarantined the students if the time was over, waiting for the maps to come.
My report from all regions shows that every candidate who registered for the examination wrote it.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://ztn.co.zw/stream/2020/12/zimsec-blunder-candidates-miss-examination/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZTN News</a></h4>

ZIMSEC O' Level Candidates Miss Agriculture Exam

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has finally spoken on reports claiming that one of its employees leaked 2020 Ordinary Level Mathematics and English papers 1 &amp; 2 examinations.
ZIMSEC Public Relations Manager Nichollette Dhlamini told TechZim that the accused, Arnold Maimba (22,) was a temporary worker.
She said ZIMSEC usually employees such contract workers to ease the pressures of the demanding time of writing sessions.
The examination council has since suspended the Risk Manager and Packing and Collating Manager pending an investigation into how Maimba managed to smuggle the papers unnoticed.
Dhlamini said all security personnel at the Norton Printing Press have been suspended and replaced.
The police recovered all the ZIMSEC 2020 O’ Level Papers that Maimba had smuggled out when his home was searched.
He also provided the authorities with a list of all the people that he had sold the papers to.
Police are still looking for the people who may have benefited from the scam.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.techzim.co.zw/2020/12/zimsec-speaks-out-on-examination-paper-thief/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TechZim</a></h4>

ZIMSEC Suspends Managers, Security Over Leaked O' Level Exam Papers

Arnold Maimba, a Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) employee who stole 2020 Ordinary Level examination papers and sold them to prospective Form Four candidates, has been slapped with a one-year jail term.
He will, however, serve an effective six months after Harare magistrate Victoria Mashamba suspended six months of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.
Maimba (22) was employed as a contract worker at the ZIMSEC Printing Press in Norton when he committed the crime.
He was charged with having access to or revealing the contents of examination material as defined in section 35(a) and (b) of the ZIMSEC Act.
Maimba stole the ‘O’ Level November 2020 Mathematics Paper One and Paper Two on 27 November and on 3 December, he stole ‘O’ Level November English Language Paper One and Paper Two examination papers and sold the papers to prospective candidates.
He was arrested by detectives on 9 December and several ‘O’ Level Mathematics and English Language examination papers were found at his home after a search.
<h4>More:<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/12/norton-man-caged-for-selling-o-level-exam-papers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> NewsDay</a></h4>

ZIMSEC Employee Jailed For Stealing & Selling O' Level Exam Papers

The government has said there is no chance that schools will be closed prematurely unless there is an explosion of coronavirus infections at learning institutions.
Zimbabwe has over 9 600 Government-run schools and “only” 30 public schools have recorded cases of COVID-19 since reopening in September.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro said that measures introduced by authorities to help pupils recover learning time lost when schools were closed early this year, would become ineffective if schools were to close early again. Said Ndoro:
<blockquote>There is no chance that non-examination classes could close early unless there is an incredibly explosive rise of Covid-19 cases in schools.
Out of our 9 625 schools, less than 30 schools have had Covid-19 cases throughout the country, so there is no need for schools to close.</blockquote>
Ndoro said the government is reviewing schools’ carrying capacities, inspecting the boarding facilities and training hostel matrons, boarding masters and kitchen staff.
This comes after 52 students at Goromonzi and Waddilove High Schools tested positive for coronavirus last week.
A few weeks ago, John Tallach High School in Matabeleland North, Matobo High School in Matabeleland South and Chinhoyi High School in Mashonaland West recorded over 200 COVID-19 cases.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/schools-to-remain-open" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

'No Chance Non-exam Classes Will Close Early', Government

Hundreds of secondary school students across the country are failing to write the ongoing Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC) examinations due to failure to obtain national identity cards.
A ZIMSEC directive makes it compulsory for candidates, particularly private pupils, to produce any form of national identification documents – other than birth certificates – to be allowed to sit for public examinations.
But due to a prolonged coronavirus-induced national lockdown, some students were not able to acquire the documents since the Registrar General’s offices were closed for several months.
An Ordinary Level student in Harare told The Sunday Mail that he has already missed two papers in Mathematics and Commerce because he is yet to get a national ID. He said:
<blockquote>I had registered to write five subjects that I failed last year when I was still a formal pupil. Back then, there was no need for me to have an ID card.
But I’m now a private learner at a local college and the law requires me to have one.  I hoped to have obtained an ID card by now but my plans were derailed by the lockdown.
I still hope though that I will be able to write the other three subjects.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education communications and advocacy director Taungana Ndoro blamed students for their predicament saying they should be more organised. Said Ndoro:
<blockquote>The issue of ID cards falls under the Registrar General’s office, we are not sure whether the pupil(s) in question have missed examinations because of the documents or other issues.
Candidates should be organised enough to get ID cards in time as the law is clear. Without an ID, you will not be allowed into the examination room.</blockquote>
In 2018, the High Court rescued a 15-year-old Form Four pupil who was barred from sitting for her Ordinary Level examinations because she did not have a national identity card.
The court ordered ZIMSEC to allow the pupil to write the examinations using her birth certificate.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/pupils-in-zimsec-nightmare" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

ZIMSEC Refuses To Budge On National ID's For Exam Pupils

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has indicated that 90 per cent of teachers are turning up for duty and this has ensured that Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examinations are progressing smoothly.
The Director of communication in the Ministry of Education, Taungana Ndoro said the return to work of the bulk of the teachers means that there is enough manpower to thoroughly effect the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for examination candidates. Said Ndoro:
<blockquote>Over 90 per cent of teachers have turned up for duty and this is a positive sign in light of the ongoing ZIMSEC examinations.
This means that we have enough manpower to thoroughly effect our SOP’s for all our candidates including those writing in isolation.</blockquote>
Ndoro said it was heartening that pupils who had tested positive for the coronavirus were recovering well and schools have also adopted the new norm. He said:
<blockquote>We are further pleased that while there may have been worrying concerns about a rise in COVID-19 in our schools, the good thing is that most of our learners are recovering or are on the road to recovery.
We are now in a new norm and learning and teaching is taking place in a new norm.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zimsec-exams-progress-well/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

90 Percent Of Teachers Return To Work, Boost For ZIMSEC Exams - Ndoro

The Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has released timetables for the 2020 November candidates which were delayed by the novel coronavirus.
Ordinary and Advanced level exams are set to commence on December 1, while Grade Seven tests begin on December 3.
Grade Sevens complete their examinations on December 17 while the last papers for Advanced Level examination candidates will be written on December 18.
Ordinary Level candidates will break exams for the festive season on December 18, resume on January 5 and sit for the final paper on February 5.
Meanwhile, ZIMSEC announced that it will publish dates for 22 Advanced and Ordinary level practical subjects later. ZIMSEC board chairman, Eddie Mwenje, said:
<blockquote>The practical subjects’ dates will be announced once everything is in place. However, we are working on not shifting the timetable too much because if we do so we might not be able to have Grade Sevens write and have their results this year.
So we are going to stick to the timetable as much as possible. We have parents that need to look for Form One places. Teachers that mark will also need to be given a break so that come next year we will not have too much pressure.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/zimsec-sets-exam-timetables" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

ZIMSEC Releases Exam Timetables

The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) on Tuesday suspended the setting of examination papers after examiners downed tools over a payment dispute.
Over 100 examiners, mostly teachers, who were camped at the Chinhoyi University of Technology, rejected the $4 000 payment offer which they deemed too little for the 12 days they were supposed to work.
The teachers were set to prepare questions for compilation into examination papers for future use by ZIMSEC.
They reportedly demanded to be paid the equivalent of US$300 that they had been receiving in previous years.
ZIMSEC communications director Nicollet Dhlamini confirmed the suspension of the exercise, saying this, however, will not affect this year’s examinations as they had already been set. Said Dhlamini:
<blockquote>The issue of money was raised, but it could not be resolved immediately as it meant that there was a need to renegotiate their contracts.
All the teachers who were doing item writing had contracts, but they demanded more and we had no option, but to stop the exercise.
… This year’s examinations were set already and this development will not have any effect on them. The items were for future examinations.</blockquote>
The 2020 public examinations commence on 1 December after exam classes resumed lessons on 28 September.
Grade 7 and Advanced Level examinations will be completed this year while Ordinary Level exams will spill over into January 2021.
<h4>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/zimsec-suspends-exams-setting/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

ZIMSEC Shelves Exams Setting After Payment Dispute With Examiners

Teachers’ unions have reiterated their calls for the postponement of public examinations scheduled for next month to 2021 when pupils will be prepared.
Progressive Teacher’s Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou argued that learners did not cover syllabuses due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown and teachers’ incapacitation therefore writing examinations under the circumstances serves no purpose. He said:
<blockquote>It is not very clear what examinations must serve. Under normal circumstances, it will be difficult for students to write examinations on a syllabus that they have not covered.
In our view, it was going to be better to find a solution to the impasse and then postpone the examinations to next year.</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu said teachers are not happy with the salary offer tabled by the government and it was highly unlikely that they will be available to invigilate the exams. Ndlovu said:
<blockquote>Preliminary indications are that some teachers are unhappy and not motivated by the remuneration offer tabled by Government.
Hence, we must continue with engagements. This means they will not be available.
If that is the manifestation on the ground, then it is advisable not to schedule the exams as there will be very few personnel to manage the process.</blockquote>
The Primary and Secondary Education Ministry maintains the examinations will proceed while the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) says “all is set”
<h4>More: <a href="https://ztn.co.zw/stream/2020/11/postpone-final-year-examinations/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZTN News</a></h4>

Teachers Reiterate Calls For The Postponement Of Exams To 2021

The government says public examinations, administered by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) will go ahead as planned no matter what.
Giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education chaired by Matabeleland South Proportional Representative Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga on Tuesday, Education Ministry secretary Tumisang Thabela said scrapping the exams will cripple higher and tertiary institutions in 2021.
Thabela argued that maximum learning has been taking place in Trust, boarding and independent schools and these pupils should not be disadvantaged by the absence of teachers in public schools. She said:
<blockquote>We believe yes, it is difficult. But some of our schools do not depend wholly on the presence of teachers. Schools are ready for exams.
You talk of Trust schools, private, independent and boarding schools they are ready. We have to look at the factors and say should we, therefore, disadvantage every child and say no child should write exams because those in the public schools are lagging behind.
The other thing you have to look is the whole system in the education sector. If you say we scrap our exams what then happens come January?
We are the people that produce students for higher education. What it means as a country is if you cannot run these exams, next year there will be nobody to feed colleges and universities.
So systematic consideration has to be taken into account. We need to make an assessment. As a country, we have to look at things holistically, to say are we prepared to have a year with no first years for colleges or universities.</blockquote>
No meaningful learning has been taking place in public schools since the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March this year.
When the phased reopening of schools commenced on 28 September, only about 10 per cent of the teachers have returned to classrooms, with the majority staying at home due to incapacitation.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/no-going-back-on-2020-public-exams-ministry/">The Herald</a></h4>

ZIMSEC Exams To Go Ahead As Planned - Thabela

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has announced that public examinations for Ordinary Level candidates will spill into January next year.
The results for Grade Seven candidates will be released before year-end to allow parents adequate time to secure Form One places for their children.
ZIMSEC board chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje further revealed that unlike Ordinary Level, Advanced Level examinations will be completed by year-end. He said:
<blockquote>Examinations will start on December 1 with Grade Seven candidates being the first to sit for the exams.
This will enable their answer scripts to be marked and the results to be published in December so as to allow parents enough time to look for Form One places.
Advanced Level candidates are also likely to write and complete their examinations in December.
Ordinary Level classes will have their examinations spill into January.</blockquote>
Mwenje said due to the large number of subjects offered at O’Level, it was inevitable that the exams would spill into 2021.
ZIMSEC statistics indicate that around 600 000 pupils will sit for Grade Seven examinations, while about 400 000 have registered for the Ordinary Level exams with nearly 200 000 candidates set to sit for the Advanced Level exams.
Meanwhile, pupils sitting for the Cambridge examinations are already halfway through their exams, which started on October 1 and are ending on November 18.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/olevel-exams-to-spill-into-next-year/">Sunday News</a></h4>

ZIMSEC O' Level Exams To Spill Over Into 2021

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has extended the registration period for November 2020 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations to October 2.
In a circular to examination centre heads, ZIMSEC director Lazarus Nembaware said all the usual registration formalities should be fully observed. The circular reads in part:
<blockquote>ZIMSEC would like to advise all Examinations Centre that registration for the 2020 ZGCE Ordinary and Advanced Level Examinations has been extended to 20 October 2020.
Heads of Examination should communicate this extension of registration to all prospective candidates in their communities.
All regulations relating to the submission of entries should be followed to the letter.</blockquote>
The extension comes at a time the government has announced that examination classes will reopen on September 28th, with exams commencing on December 1st.
Registration for the 2020 examinations was supposed to have closed between March and April this year, however, the processes were halted when schools closed following the coronavirus outbreak.

ZIMSEC Extends November Exam Registration Deadline

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Tumisang Thabela said she receives 400 WhatsApp messages daily from individuals, with half of them trying to dissuade her from reopening schools.
Thabela said she wondered if people who are against the reopening of schools actually have kids or have children enrolled in public schools.
She was speaking at Lubuze Primary School in Insiza District, Matabeleland South on Thursday where she was launching Grade 7 English and Mathematics handbooks. She said:
<blockquote>Every day when I sit down at the end of the day, I have an average of 400 WhatsApp messages, especially during this time of Covid-19.
Out of that 400, almost half are attacking me and telling me that what I’m doing is nonsense. ‘You can’t open schools, why do you want to risk the lives of our children and all sorts.’
And sometimes I wonder whether people who say this actually have children. If they have them, whether they have children in the public schools that I deal with.
Because a parent who has a child whose life has been disrupted and continues being disrupted would rather come to me and see what we can do and see how we can move forward rather than the one who would say no child should go back to school.</blockquote>
Examination classes, that is Grade 7s, Form 4s and Form 6s, are set to reopen on September 28, with exams commencing on December 1.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/permanent-secretary-gets-whatsapp-messages-against-schools-opening-daily/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Education Official Receives 200 WhatsApp Messages Daily Against Schools Reopening

Private schools have applauded the government for its recent directive for schools to reopen this month for examination classes.
Private schools directly employ over ten thousand teachers countrywide and they were greatly affected by the coronavirus lockdown as they solely depend on school fees for finances. James Manyoka, a private school headmaster said:
<blockquote>We were affected badly and some are out of work as we depend on school fees. There is hope now that schools are going to open.</blockquote>
An education entrepreneur Mavis Mavhunga told ZBC News that private schools need a financial bailout to remain afloat and also to be allowed to collect fees from non-examination classes. She said:
<blockquote>We applaud Government for allowing schools to reopen but for the private education sector which also contributes to education development in the country we need to be bailed out so that we remain afloat and also even be allowed to collect fees from non-examination classes since we do not rely on Government funds.</blockquote>
A school owner, Benjamin Ganyiwa said there are health checklists that they have been given to comply with but their capacity to do so may be impacted by limited funds since they will only collect money from exam classes only.
The government on Tuesday announced that Grade 7s, Form 4s and Form 6s will resume lessons on 28 September, with ZIMSEC examinations starting on 1 December.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/schools-re-opening-to-provide-lifeline-to-private-school-owners-employees/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZBC News</a></h4>

Private School Owners Welcome Schools Reopening

Authorities at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and workers’ representatives have reached a compromise agreement to allow the writing of outstanding examinations to proceed.
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the parties, with the University pledging to provide the workers with transport from and back to their homes, a US$3.00 lunch allowance, and tea. The agreement signed by the two parties’ representatives read:
<blockquote>In light of the declaration of incapacitation by NUST workers and efforts that are being made to address challenges being faced by workers, the University and the Workers Committee have arrived at a compromise to see outstanding examinations process to resume.
The University undertakes to provide the following to examiners, invigilators, workers preparing examination venues and security personnel assisting in the examination process
a) Transport from and back to their homes
b) A lunch allowance pegged at $3 payable at Zimbabwe dollar equivalence using the official rate
c) Tea (Workers to bring their own cups and spoons)
A meeting will be held on 18 September 2020 to review this position vis-a-vis the response from the relevant stakeholders on the welfare of workers.
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhH6Wt1WAAA8lFd?format=jpg&amp;name=small"/></blockquote>

NUST Authorities, Workers Strike Deal For Resumption Of Exams

The Government has set the 14th of September as the schools opening date for Cambridge examination classes and the 28th of September for the commencement of ZIMSEC examination classes.
The ZIMSEC examinations will start on 1 December 2020.
This was announced by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa during a post-cabinet media briefing on Tuesday. She said:
<blockquote>The schools opening dates are scheduled for 14 September 2020, for Cambridge examination classes and on 28 September 2020 for ZIMSEC examination classes.
Cabinet approved that the ZIMSEC examination classes should start on 1st December 2020.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is working closely with other Ministries and stakeholders to guarantee the safety of pupils and staff during the examinations period.</blockquote>
Watch the video below:
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Government Announces Schools Reopening Dates

The Progressive Teachers Union Zimbabwe (PTUZ) has warned the government against going ahead with plans for students to sit for the November and December public examinations this year when learners are not adequately prepared.
PTUZ president Takavafira Zhou the majority of learners are not ready for the exams since they are not able to access the government’s radio and television lessons and online learning material. Said Zhou:
<blockquote>It is noteworthy that schools closed on March 24, 2020, and since then the so-called government radio and television lessons failed to take off.
Only teachers’ class and subject WhatsApp groups have been operative albeit with restrictions as data bundles are expensive and several parents and students also have no smartphones that can access WhatsApp.</blockquote>
Zhou said for exams to proceed, the government should put in place measures to protect educators and learners from contracting coronavirus. He added:
<blockquote>It is our humble professional view that students need three months of intensive learning before writing examinations.
We certainly don’t see how the government would procure, let alone place in 10 000 schools Covid-19 abatement equipment (testing kits, thermometers, sanitisers and other PPE) and test millions of students and 136 000 teachers and 50 000 ancillary staff in order to ensure the opening of schools soon and writing of examinations in November.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/teachers-shoot-down-public-examinations-proposal/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

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