Govt scraps O and A-Level exam subsidies

Moleen Machingura Herald Reporter
Government will not subsidise examination fees for Ordinary and Advanced Level this year but the average O-Level candidate will pay less than a total of US$10 more for the whole exam and those writing three A-Levels will pay just US$6 more.
The subsidies were low, just US$1 for each O-Level subject and US$2 for each A-Level and Zimsec fees will remain the same, at US$13 a subject at O-Level and US$26 a subject at A-Level. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora told journalists in Harare that examination fees for all levels remained unchanged but candidates would pay extra money.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to advise the nation that the Zimsec O-Level and A-Level fees which were at US$13 and US$26 respectively in 2013 have remained the same for 2014,” he said. “While candidates in 2013 paid US$12 and US$24 respectively, with the government subsidising US$1 at O-Level and US$2 at A-Level, in 2014 the candidates will pay the full amount of US$13 for O-Level and US$26 A-Level,” said Minister Dokora

Zimsec Director Mr Esau Nhandara said examination fees for practical subjects also remained unchanged. He said Zimsec had set May 23 as the registration deadline for November 2014 O-Level and A-Level candidates.