Some say ZIMSEC should be abolished and we revert to Cambridge Examinations while others maintain that the locally managed examinations should be given time to establish themselves.
O Level English and Maths papers were leaked recently and the exams will have to be re-written before the end of the year. Former Minister of Education David Coltart noted that it was not the first time papers had leaked and said the problem was not with ZIMSEC, but with school authorities who lacked discipline.
He warned against sensationalising the issue, as ZIMSEC was trying to expand the holding of exams throughout the country at an affordable fee. “The solution would be to avoid granting every school examination centre status unless they meet the expected standards. Some schools have slack measures for safe keeping,” Coltart said, pointing out that the selective granting of exam status to schools should not make life difficult for rural children.
Never Kamba, an Epworth businessman, blamed poor teachers’ remuneration for the leakages.
“The leakages are partly caused by the poor earnings of teachers who set the papers and later distribute them to schools. I think if the country could revert to Cambridge Examination set abroad security would be tightened around the exams,” said Kamba.
Nomore Kapini of Sunningdale had no kind words for ZIMSEC and urged government to make Cambridge Examinations compulsory without further delays. “ZIMSEC has failed to maintain security around the papers for years now. The only option is to revert to Cambridge.”
Post published in: News