Zimsec extends O'level and A'level registration deadline

THE Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (Zimsec) has thrown prospective Ordinary and Advanced Level candidates a lifeline, as it has extended the registration deadline by a week.

The initial deadline was set for 11 May and has since been extended to 18 May.

In an interview from Harare yesterday, Zimsec public relations officer Mr Ezekiel Pasipamire confirmed that they had extended the deadline to accommodate candidates that had not yet registered for the public examinations set for November.


"The registrations are still coming in as we speak so we have given schools a one-week window period for them to register," said Mr Pasipamire.

He said the country's examinations body expected an increase of candidates registering for this year's November examinations compared to last year.

"We hope to have a higher figure of candidates this year around, as our stakeholders, the parents now have confidence in us," said Mr Pasipamire.

He said the number candidates for June O- and A-level were encouraging, as they increased by 16 000 up from 54 000 last year.

"There was an impressive increase in the June registration of candidates and logically we expect to have more candidates in November.

"The number of candidates has been on the increase in the last two years so it is more likely that there is an increase of candidates for November as well," said Mr Pasipamire.

He said Zimsec's level of preparedness for the November public examinations was satisfactory.

"We will do our best to make sure that the examinations sail smoothly," said Mr Pasipamire.
Registration fees for O-level are pegged at $11 per subject while A-level candidates pay $22.

Matabeleland North provincial education director Mrs Boithatelo Mnguni said her province had recorded a huge improvement in terms of O- and A-level registration although the actual figures were not readily available.

"The level of confidence among pupils sitting for the public examinations is higher than that of last year and we hope that the pupils will register all the subjects that they have been learning from last year," said Mrs Mnguni.

She said her province was likely to perform better in this year's O- and A-level examinations, as there has been a positive uptake of holiday lessons by pupils.

"We have built confidence in the pupils and we are certain that there will be no drop outs for this year's examinations," said Mrs Mnguni.

She expressed concern over lack of interest by candidates towards Mathematics and Science subjects.

"We are worried about the number of candidates registering for these subjects and we hope to engage Zimsec to try and explore solutions to this problem," said Mrs Mnguni.

The 2011 national percentage pass rate for O- and A-level was 19,50 up from 16,50 in 2010.
Grade Seven performance had improved by close to four percent from 25 percent in 2010 to 28,9 percent last year.

In 2011, the pass rate for A-level increased to 85,25 up from 75,99 in 2010 and these examinations saw 241 512 candidates register.

Candidates who sat for A-level dropped from 27 782 in 2010 to 25 136 in 2011.

A total of 288 365 candidates registered for Grade Seven examinations last year down from 303 978 in 2010.