Not obtaining 5 O-Levels does not mean failure, Minister says

PRIMARY and Secondary Education deputy minister Professor Paul Mavima has said the country should move away for labelling O-Level students who fail to obtain five subjects or more as having failed studies.

Professor Mavima said such students are being absorbed by various technical and vocational education which fall under the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.

The deputy minister was respond to MP Concilia Chinanzvavana who had asked what became of students who would not have obtained five subjects.

She asked on Wednesday in parliament: "What measures have been put in place for the residual 78% of our O-level candidates for the past year who could not make it to garner 5 O-levels to go to advanced level or tertiary education because our secondary schools are overwhelmed and are not taking repeaters?."

In response, Professor Mavima said: "To know exactly what would happen to each and every one of the individuals who did not garner the 5 O-levels that are a requisite for advancement to A-level would be impossible, but the ministry working together with other ministries and other institutions has said that this country, our nation needs to move to where we do not necessarily say a person who has not garnered 5 O-levels has failed," he said.

"This is why we are emphasising technical and vocational education and we are working with the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment in ensuring that."

He said the new trust was to emphasising less of the academic and emphasising more of the technical and vocational education so that people have alternatives and people have good alternatives in technical and vocational education.