Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
HIGHER and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira yesterday directed the Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) to restore the integrity of its examinations by strengthening systems and deploying blockchain-secured digital credentials to make certificates impossible to forge.
In a speech read on his behalf by the chief director of Human Capital Planning and Skills Development, Professor Norman Takaidza at the ongoing strategic HEXCO convention, Prof Tagwira also implored the examination council to streamline its mandate within the National Development Strategy (NDS2) framework.
He said the matter of examination integrity was a priority as it cut “to the very heart of public trust” and the council will soon establish a dedicated Examinations Integrity Unit (EIU) with prosecutorial referral powers.
“We have in the past experienced the unthinkable: examination leaks, scripts accessed before scheduled sittings, allegations of certificates issued to candidates who did not earn them. Public confidence has been shaken and employers are questioning the value of our credentials.
“Let me be unequivocal. This must never happen again. Having an examination system that cannot guarantee confidentiality, security and fairness is not merely inefficient; it is unjust. It diminished every qualification HEXCO has ever issued,” Prof Tagwira said.
He said to address the challenges and rebuild public trust, the commitments had been made to adopt a zero-tolerance on examination security breaches, an accelerated deployment of blockchain-secured digital credentials and have a dedicated unit with prosecutorial referral powers.
“We will review all physical and digital protocols governing examination storage, transportation and access. We will establish a dedicated EIU with prosecutorial referral powers.
“The era of paper certificates vulnerable to duplication must end. The era of tamper-proof, instantly verifiable digital credentials must begin. Pilots are already underway,” he said.
The HEXCO board, as part of its strategic digital agenda, is considering moving beyond the traditional pen and paper examinations and exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain and secure digital platforms can enhance examination integrity under a careful “experiment without fear” approach.
