DT Correspondent
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has received an application from the South African government requesting that their students be allowed to sit for examinations administered by the council.
This move is seen as a validation of ZIMSEC’s reputation for maintaining high standards and professionalism in the education sector.
During a question and answer session last Thursday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo shared the news in response to concerns raised by Senator Chief Chikwakwa regarding perceived disparities between the Cambridge and ZIMSEC examination boards.
The senator suggested that having a single examination board would promote equity and fairness.
Minister Moyo confirmed that South Africa had made an official application to have their children examined by ZIMSEC, indicating their recognition of the council’s credibility.
The South African envoy is expected to visit Zimbabwe in January to discuss and formalise a memorandum of understanding.
“Mr President Sir, there are certain countries which also want to have ZIMSEC examinations.
“South Africa has made an application that they want their children to be examined by our ZIMSEC board.
“The Minister (South African envoy) is coming next year in January for a memorandum of understanding,” he said.
Addressing concerns about potential learning disparities stemming from the presence of the Cambridge examination board in Zimbabwe, Minister Moyo assured the public that ZIMSEC remains a strong and competitive local examination board.
“It does not mean that the children that sit for ZIMSEC examinations are disadvantaged.
“In terms of the question that has been posed, he said why do we not have ZIMSEC as the single examination board? No one would want us to have Cambridge as our examination board, ZIMSEC is our local board.”
While Minister Moyo acknowledged the suggestion of having ZIMSEC as the sole examination board, he highlighted that constitutional changes would be required, and the decision ultimately rests with the Parliament, senators, and civic organizations.
He emphasized that individuals or civic organizations have the right to petition Parliament under Section 149 of the Constitution if they desire a single examination board.
In recent efforts to combat exam paper leakages and cheating, ZIMSEC has implemented stringent measures.
The council introduced new regulations that carry severe penalties for individuals involved in leaking public examination question papers.
Convicted offenders face up to nine years in prison, while learners found guilty of the same offense will have their results nullified.