Raymond Jaravaza [email protected]
MORE than 386 000 candidates yesterday began their 2026 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations at about 3 500 centres nationwide, with authorities reporting a smooth start and strengthened security measures to protect the integrity of the examinations.
The examinations, which are a key milestone for learners seeking to progress to higher education, professional training and employment, began with authorities emphasising the need to prevent question paper leaks, impersonation and other forms of examination malpractice.
O-Level candidates sat for Mathematics and English papers, while A-Level candidates wrote Guidance and Life Skills, Animal Science, Crop Science and Agricultural Engineering.
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The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is working with Zimsec, provincial and district education offices, school heads and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth administration of the examinations.
Ministry spokesperson Mr Taungana Ndoro said the examinations had started without major disruptions, adding that the deployment of invigilators, supervisors, monitors and other personnel was being monitored to ensure all centres were adequately staffed.
“The examinations started smoothly across all schools and centres in the country. The ministry and Zimsec have also strengthened examination security to prevent leakage, impersonation, cheating and other irregularities that could undermine the credibility of the examinations,” he said.
This year, Zimsec introduced traceable question papers and personalised answer sheets as part of efforts to tighten controls over examination materials and scripts.
Mr Ndoro said the traceability system would enable question papers to be linked to their designated examination centres, while personalised answer sheets were intended to guard against script substitution and the introduction of unauthorised scripts.
“The traceability feature allows a question paper to be associated with the centre to which it was allocated, while personalised answer sheets strengthen controls against script substitution or the introduction of outside scripts,” he said.
“These safeguards cover the examination chain from printing and packaging through distribution, storage and use.”
He said the measures were intended to ensure that candidates sat their examinations under fair and comparable conditions.
“Our responsibility is to protect the integrity of the entire examination process,” he said.
A Zimpapers news crew visited selected schools in Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi, Mpopoma and Pumula East suburbs yesterday and observed that the examinations were progressing smoothly.
Mr Enock Banda (20), an external candidate who sat for his O-Level Mathematics examination at a centre in the western suburbs, said he was hopeful of passing the paper.
“I did my best and hopefully I will pass. I just want to attain at least a pass in Mathematics so that I can start applying for a position in the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, as I have always dreamed of being a prison officer,” he said.
At Amhlophe High School, Form Three learners said their lessons had been scheduled for the afternoon to allow O-Level candidates to sit for their Mathematics examination.
Zimsec public relations manager Mrs Nicky Dhlamini said security remained a priority, with technological improvements in the printing and packaging of examination materials complementing existing safeguards.
She said security features incorporated into question papers enabled the examinations body to identify the centres to which specific papers had been allocated.
“From printing to distribution and eventually the sitting of examinations, everything is closely monitored by security and loss-control teams,” she said.
The traceability system is also expected to assist investigations into suspected premature access to examination papers by helping security teams identify the centre from which the materials originated.
Mrs Dhlamini said the approach was intended to ensure that those responsible for any breach were identified without unfairly penalising innocent candidates.
“In close collaboration with State and private agencies, Zimsec is able to identify and punish only the guilty without prejudicing innocent candidates,” she said.
Personalised answer sheets are another measure being used to strengthen safeguards against examination malpractice.
