Online Reporter
Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent
Parents and guardians have been implored to exercise caution against fraudsters as the registration cycle for the 2026 national school examinations draws to a close.
This follows a trend in which proprietors of emerging private schools have been accused of diverting registration funds, leaving learners with fake statements of entry and shattered academic prospects.
The warning comes as the Government last week extended the November registration deadline for the 2026 ZIMSEC Advanced and Ordinary Level examinations from March 27 to May 22.
In an interview, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education director of Communications and Advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, encouraged parents and guardians to verify that institutions are registered as either ZIMSEC or Cambridge examination centres.
“All parents should take note that the registration deadline for June ZIMSEC 2026 examinations was 27 February,” said Mr Ndoro.
“This is the time to verify.
“We urge parents to ensure they receive statements of entry with official ZIMSEC stamps and fonts. You are free to verify these directly with ZIMSEC.”
Mr Ndoro emphasised that learners attending non-registered schools must be registered as private candidates at approved centres, including Government schools, council schools or private colleges.
He also encouraged parents to physically visit centres to confirm their children’s registration status.
The warning comes after reports that hundreds of students have been left stranded after paying examination fees to unregistered or unscrupulous institutions over the past two years.
Investigations show that some school proprietors have allegedly diverted registration fees for personal use, while issuing fake statements of entry.
In one case, Destiny Achievers College allegedly failed to register 33 students for their 2024 examinations after misappropriating their fees, later attempting to cover the fraud by issuing a “fake” examination using photocopied revision papers.
