Harare Correspondent
As the Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations approach this month, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has announced enhanced security measures to prevent leakages of public examination papers.
Schools identified with compromised security will receive their examination papers just moments before the exams begin.
Key among the new security protocols is the establishment of cluster centres, where examination papers will be securely stored at schools with robust security infrastructure. This will facilitate the safe distribution of papers to nearby schools on examination day.
In addition, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) will implement real-time monitoring of the examinations.
Monitors will be dispatched to all examination centres to detect and prevent any potential leaks.
“We have enhanced security around examination processes and we are very confident that they will be written without any glitches, incidents or issues across the country,” stated Mr. Taungana Ndoro, the Ministry’s spokesperson.
He added,
“We can even say that the Zimsec exams are now more secure than those of Cambridge.”
This year, there will be stricter protocols for the transportation of examination papers from national centres to provinces and districts.
“The morning paper will be transported in the morning and collected soon after, while the afternoon paper will be transported in the afternoon and collected the same day,” explained Mr. Ndoro.
He emphasized that the expenses for these measures will be covered by the examination fees paid by candidates during registration.
Zimsec has also instituted severe penalties for those who leak examination papers, including a nine-year jail term and the nullification of results for any candidates found cheating. The Ministry highlighted that the successful conduct of the recent Grade 7 examinations demonstrated the effectiveness of these strengthened security measures.
Mr. Ndoro noted,
“The Grade 7 examinations were conducted and completed successfully without any incident, and we expect the same when it comes to the O and A level examinations.”
He further elaborated on the cluster centres, stating,
“When we say a cluster centre we mean a school with better security infrastructure within a certain area.”
As for the Grade 7 candidates who have completed their examinations, they have been released for a holiday. Mr. Ndoro encouraged them to begin researching what is expected of them at the secondary school level, stating,
“The learners, we implore them to be productive and start researching secondary education and stay away from indiscipline.”
This year marks the final year for learners to be assessed on the Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA), with a new heritage-based curriculum set to be implemented next year. This curriculum promotes five pathways:
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), visual and performing arts, technical and vocational education and training, humanities, and commercials
In a bid to improve the education system, the government has employed over 10,000 teachers this year alone, aligning with President Mnangagwa’s commitment to enhancing education across the country.
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