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the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) chairman, Professor Norman Maphosa said yesterday.
The examinations body delayed the marking of the examinations as it was waiting for the Ministry of Finance to release the money to pay the markers.
Last week Cabinet ordered Zimsec to use its own resources to fund the exercise, which requires $1,5 million.
In an interview, Prof Maphosa said the marking of the Grade Seven examinations would take less than two weeks as the markers were continuing from where they left.
“The marking of the Grade Seven examinations is starting on Monday and we hope that the results would be out next week,” said Prof Maphosa
“The marking of the examinations started some time back and the markers had finished marking the multiple choice papers. It is just a matter of finishing off the other papers, which include essays.”
Prof Maphosa said the examinations body was expecting to release the results when schools close on 6 December.
“We are hoping to release the results just when the schools close. If there are any delays then the results might be out a day or two after the schools close.
“I would like to assure parents and the candidates who sat for the Grade Seven examinations this year that everything is in place and the results would be out next week,” said Prof Maphosa.
Traditionally the Grade Seven examinations are written in early October with the results usually released at the beginning of December.
Last year Zimsec finished marking the examinations by 11 November, two weeks after the writing of the examinations while in 2010 the results were released on 2 December.
Meanwhile, Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Senator David Coltart has reassured the nation that Ordinary and Advanced level examination results for this year would be released on time.
In an interview, he said this was despite the delays by Zimsec in marking of this year’s Grade Seven examinations whose results are usually released at the beginning of December.
“The results for O and A level examinations will be released at the end of January and beginning of February. This is despite the challenges that have faced Zimsec in marking this year’s Grade Seven examinations,” he said.
At least $10 million is needed to pay the markers, accommodate and transport them during the marking of this year’s O and A Level examinations.
Statistics from the examinations body show that this year 286 330 candidates set for November O Level examinations while 37 525 set for A Level examinations in November.
“The examinations have been written and it is now a question of when they will be marked,” said Sen Coltart.
He said because Government was facing cash flow challenges Zimsec could use its resources for the marking exercise.
“At the moment, Government has cash flow problems and Cabinet has directed Treasury to release the required money.
“Cabinet has expressed concern over the marking of this year’s examinations and in the meantime Zimsec has been directed to use its own resources to pay the markers. Zimsec has got sufficient money to fund the marking,” he said.
Last year, the examinations body finished marking Grade Seven examinations by 11 November and the results were released in early December.
The A Level results were out on 19 January while the O level results were released on 31 January.
Over the years markers and the examination body have clashed over allowances not being paid on time, leading to delays in releasing the results.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter