John Ndlovu and Clive Thabo Dube
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC)’s act of nullifying and withholding results for some of the 2022 Ordinary level students is facing wide criticism from the Educators Union of Zimbabwe (EUZ) and the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe.
EUZ and PTUZ have widely criticised the act by the Examining body and the two associations are urging the parliament of Zimbabwe to suspend the nation’s examining body. They are also encouraging parents to take legal action.
Last week Friday, ZIMSEC released the 2022 O’ Level examination results and there were various reports of paper leakages which led to the examination body to nulify and withhold some of the results. Affected schools include Silveria High School and Mukaro Girls High School amongst others.
Speaking to Zim GBC News on the examination paper leakages and anomalies which have caused the nullification of results and some being withheld, the EUZ president Tafadzwa Munodawafa said the examination mother board is no longer competent in its mandate and also stated that the latter are just using students as cover-up in their tracks.
“ZIMSEC has used learners as scapegoat for it’s failure. The exams had first leaked from ZIMSEC itself in order for learners to gain access. The parents that have suffered with fees for all these years can’t be treated like this by ZIMSEC. I believe parents should sue because it’s ZIMSEC who should be answerable to this matter. There is no need to beat about the bush. Parliament should suspend and investigate ZIMSEC.”Munodawafa said.
The Educators Union of Zimbabwe President stated that the spontaneous paper leaks in 2022 Ordinary level examinations are an indication of lack of security. Henceforth, a way forward needed to be mapped through making investigations within the body itself by an outsider in form of the parliament, rather than punishing the students.
“It is obvious that there are loopholes in the systems of security where exam storage is concerned. What we might need is an overhaul of some sort in order to curb leakages. The rate at which exam papers leaked for 2022 exams speaks to some rot in the system. The best that can be done at this juncture is a full investigation before we can propose what needs to be done. A fact finding mission is what all of us stakeholders need.” said Tafadzwa Munodawafa, the EUZ President.
Munodawafa further criticised ZIMSEC’s reputation and credibility as she stated that the National examining body’s reputation has seriously depreciated over the years due to rife paper leaks which had pushed parents to resort to Cambridge Examinations.
“ZIMSEC is now obviously a shadow of it’s former self. What we saw on social media could be a tip of the iceberg for all we know. I have personally heard many parents with current ‘O’ Level learners are beginning to enquire about Cambridge. Because, even the ‘W’ mark (withheld) that have now been reversed to results leave a lot to be desired. There is no transparency as it were as to how “W” was reached and the conditions that influence a turn in results either way.” She said.
The Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe told this publication that the decision by ZIMSEC to nullify results holds no ground and is not justifiable.
“Zimsec cannot nullify to investigate, but must investigate to nullify. The blanket nullification of some schools that were never informed that they are under investigation is callous and monument of Zimbabwean injustice. Not surprisingly Mukaro High and Silveria have received their results today,” said Dr. Takavafira Zhou, the PTUZ President.
Zhou added that, “What we must be able to say without fear or favor is that while some schools are involved in cheating, the bug lies with Zimsec’s lax security at areas where exams are kept. There are even reports of too many people having access into area where exams are kept in Chegutu. The company packaging exams in plastic envelops does a shoddy job as many examination centers in schools received exam papers that were not properly sealed and many open envelops with exams inside.”
Dr. Takavafira Zhou also said that ZIMSEC leakages will continue and stated that many innocent students are now suffering the consequences. She also said that the integrity and credibility is lacking in the ZIMSEC board members and employees