Poor funding chokes Zimsec

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
THE failure by Government to fund the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council has seen the organisation divert examination fees paid by Ordinary Level students to fund some of its operations. This was said by the Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Constance Chigwamba when she appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sports, Arts and Culture.

“Because Government has not released any subsidy, we are found trying to save from what we have on O’ Level (examination fees), reduce on the marking fees for the O’ Level and A’ Level markers so that we have a saving and use it on other projects of the printing press,” she said.
Mrs Chigwamba said that failure by Government to provide funds to cater for Grade Seven examinations forced Zimsec to use part of money by O’ Level students to run the examination.

“Government indicated way back that it would take charge of that (Grade Seven examination fees), but what has been happening of late is that we don’t get the examination fees from Government and as a result we are busy scrounging,” she said.

“That’s why sometimes you hear that O’ Level markers have not been paid, maybe because we use that money for item writing and quality control of the Grade Seven examinations.”

Zimsec has identified printing examinations on its own as a long term solution to its problems, but that has been hampered by lack of Government funding.

Zimsec director Mr Esau Nhandara said US$5 million was needed for the completion of the building and purchasing of the printing press. The printing press will be installed in Norton.

“We are now at roof level of the building for the main printing press and for us to be able to complete that we have computed, from the figures of the quantity surveyor, a figure of US$1,5 million,” said Mr Nhandara.

“For the equipment to start printing for 2014 examination papers, and we have computed requirements because this is going to be Online digital printer, we need US$3,5 million. So, we are looking at a bill of US$5 million.”

Mr Nhandara said the printing press could print for other countries and be a source to raise funds for Zimsec, with Namibia showing an interest to have their examinations printed here.

Zimsec financial constraints have affected its ability to pay markers on time and this has affected the smooth flow of running examinations.

Mrs Chigwamba also bemoaned the paltry per capita grant given by Government, saying Treasury was only providing US$4 per annum for every child.

She said this had affected the quality of education, especially for poor children in remote areas.