News / Education
Zimbabwe government to tax 'luxurious' Cambridge exams
09 Oct 2015 at 06:29hrs | Views
Education minister Lazarus Dokora has said Government is planning to tax students who sit for United Kingdom's Oxford University Cambridge exams at Ordinary and Advanced levels,
He said those sitting for the prestigious examinations are ‘importing a luxury".
On Thursday, Dokora said the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec)'s examinations meet international standards hence there was no need for foreign exams.
"There are those who insist on taking Cambridge and we are in discussion with my colleagues - the Minister of Industry (Mike Bimha) and I am sure Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa's ears are listening - to say if you are importing exams you are importing a luxury".
This comes as some elements in government have over the years pushed for a ban on Cambridge exams. The government has been grappling with dwindling revenues and has taken every opportunity to raise funds through introduction of more taxes.
"You want to take things out of my bag now, you should follow the trend of my thought and leave it at that. It's a teaser isn't it?".
"Zimsec students have gone and excelled wherever they have gone across the globe including places such as Ukraine where they have excelled with top honour," he said.
He said those sitting for the prestigious examinations are ‘importing a luxury".
On Thursday, Dokora said the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec)'s examinations meet international standards hence there was no need for foreign exams.
"There are those who insist on taking Cambridge and we are in discussion with my colleagues - the Minister of Industry (Mike Bimha) and I am sure Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa's ears are listening - to say if you are importing exams you are importing a luxury".
This comes as some elements in government have over the years pushed for a ban on Cambridge exams. The government has been grappling with dwindling revenues and has taken every opportunity to raise funds through introduction of more taxes.
"You want to take things out of my bag now, you should follow the trend of my thought and leave it at that. It's a teaser isn't it?".
"Zimsec students have gone and excelled wherever they have gone across the globe including places such as Ukraine where they have excelled with top honour," he said.
Source - Zimbabwe Independent
