Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has assured the public that there will be no examination leakages during the upcoming Zimbabwe School Examinations Council examinations, saying the issue is now a “thing of the past”.
This announcement comes as all schools are preparing to reopen for the third term next week, with Grade 7 candidates scheduled to start writing exams in September and O and A-Level students to follow later in the term.
In an interview on Wednesday, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerai Moyo, assured parents and guardians that the Government has implemented measures to prevent security breaches.
“I’m 100 percent confident that come 2025 (ZIMSEC) examinations, which are starting this month, there won’t be any leakages because everything is set. By the way, the Grade 7 examinations are starting this September. Everything has been put in place so as to deal decisively with anyone who might wish or attempt to participate in the leakage.”
He also vowed to prevent any malpractice, citing a two-year period without any major leakages.
“Exam leakage is now a thing of the past. We last had an exam leakage in 2022, when one teacher in Matabeleland South participated in the leakage. But now we have put deterrent measures to ensure that students are protected and also the integrity of the examination is well respected.
“We have serialised all our examination scripts so that if any leakage happens, we are able to detect using our software where the leakage has happened. We are also able to trace the source of the leakage.”
Minister Moyo acknowledged that impersonation could be a challenge, but emphasised that offenders would face jail time.
In the long term, Minister Moyo said the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Amendment Bill, recently gazetted by Parliament, will provide a lasting solution to exam leakages once passed.
The proposed bill stipulates that candidates found guilty of malpractice, including cheating, could face up to five years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, institutions convicted of widespread irregularities will face deregistration and be required to cover the costs of providing alternative examination centres.
Institutions where at least half of the candidates breach standard examination procedures will be suspended and also required to bear the costs of alternative centres for their candidates.
