adminMarkers were yesterday invited by the examination body to confirm their marking status at the respective regional offices countrywide before Friday.
Most markers have since confirmed their marking status and have been informed that marking will start on Saturday at the respective regional offices.
The examinations body delayed the marking as it was waiting for the Ministry of Finance to release the money to pay the markers.
On Tuesday Cabinet ordered Zimsec to use its own resources for the exercise, which requires $1,5 million.
In an interview, Prof Maphosa said the marking process had started and the markers were prepared to start marking the examinations.
He could not be drawn to reveal how much Zimsec had managed to raise to pay the markers, but said everything was in place.
“The marking process has started and the marking is due to start soon. We are hoping that it would be complete in a short space of time,” said Prof Maphosa.
“I do not think that parents will wait for a long time for the results to be out and I want to assure them that everything is in place.”
Prof Maphosa said markers would not take a long time to complete the exercise as they had already marked the multiple-choice examination papers.
“The marking of the Grade Seven 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 compositions,” said Prof Maphosa.
Traditionally the Grade Seven examinations are written in early October with the results usually released at the beginning of December when schools close.
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.
Over the years markers and the examination body have clashed over allowances not being paid on time, leading to delays in releasing the results.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo