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High
expectations as Zimbabwe's examination season starts
Students Solidarity Trust
May 19, 2010
In just under
a month from now, Zimbabwean students who are in the ordinary and
advanced level classes will begin examination season as they sit
for the June exams. Memories are still fresh of the traumatic experiences
of students who had to sit for examinations in 2008 after only 24
days of school according to the Progressive
Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe [PTUZ]. Compounding the Students'
problems was the fact that results were only released in May 2009,
long after the time students could have enrolled for their next
programs. This meant that the 2008 stream of students lost a whole
year due to no fault of their own.
The Minister
of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart crush-landed
the problem and seems to have set in motion moves to reform the
Zimbabwe Schools' Examinations Council [ZIMSEC] although he
has been mum on the issue.
As Senator
Coltart and ZIMSEC brace themselves for another season of administering
examinations, the contentious issue around fees and the fee structure
for ZIMSEC has not yet been satisfactorily resolved. Students are
still in limbo regarding the full fee structure and how those who
are unable to pay will be catered for. An unfortunate group of students
found themselves unable to sit for their examinations despite the
ministry's numerous extensions to the payment deadline. The
Ministry should, for the avoidance of any doubt clarify issues financial
for parents and guardians to adequately prepare and not be court
off guard as last year.
From the financial
inadequacies to administrative bungling, the examination body is
riddled with problems which the Minister has to rectify as a matter
of urgency if sanity, confidence and efficiency are to be restored.
So low is the confidence in Zimbabwe's examination system
that despite the biting economic challenges parents and guardians
face, Cambridge is the option many of the struggling parents have
settled for.
This has further
burdened parents due to very low salaries due to the slow progress
in the economic activity in Zimbabwe.
Through a number
of articles in its March 14 edition, The Standard exposed the unfortunate
sorry state of the exam body. This only added to the several testimonials
on and off record of the inefficiencies of ZIMSEC. That the examinations'
body is operating without a fully-fledged board is to say the least
concerning. Students of Zimbabwe in particular and citizens of Zimbabwe
in general need to have their confidence restored in ZIMSEC. A massive
audit and clean-out should also occur to nip the corruption that
had taken root in the bud. Senator Coltart should at the very least
come clean with the public on what steps he has or intends to take
to sanitise ZIMSEC.
Visit the Students
Solidarity Trust fact
sheet
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