'Zimsec has failed to pay markers'

THE Zimbabwe Schools' Examination Council (Zimsec) has failed to pay markers who marked the November 2013 O- and A-level national examinations leading to threats by some not to take part in future exercises.

According to Sunday News, Zimsec only managed to pay examiners half of what is due to them with the remainder expected to be paid this month.

Markers in language - English, Shona and Ndebele - get $1,02 per script and on average mark 340 scripts.

Some disgruntled examiners who spoke to Sunday News last week accused the examination council of acting in bad faith as it flouted several clauses of the contract the two parties signed at the commencement of the marking exercise. The examiners claim that Zimsec committed to paying them their dues seven days after the verification of results, a commitment the national examination board failed to honour.

Most examiners said they only started receiving part of their payment on 14 February, almost a month after the agreed date.
Another bone of contention among the examiners is that the examination board had not bothered to explain to them the reasons for the payment delays.

"Our contract of employment stated that we were supposed to be paid seven days after the verification of results. The verification process ended on 21 January. I went to the bank seven days after the verification process and no deposit from Zimsec reflected.

"Most of us only started receiving payments on 14 February which is 24 days after the agreed date. What frustrates us more is that no one from Zimsec has bothered to explain the delay to us," said one disgruntled examiner who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"This whole idea of paying us in instalments does not work at all. We prefer being paid our full amounts at once. At least that way one can do something meaningful with the money. The moment the money comes in instalments it becomes difficult to budget," added the disgruntled examiner.

Some senior examiners have even threatened to withdraw their services if the national examination council continued with such conduct.

"If things continue like this then we might be forced to withdraw our services because there is no transparency in what Zimsec is doing in as far as our payments are concerned. Right now we are being told that our balances will be paid sometime in March. When exactly in March? No one bothers to say," fumed another examiner who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Acting Zimsec information and public relations manager, Ms Tryfine Dzvukutu conceded that the council had not managed to pay the examiners their full amounts on the agreed date.

Ms Dzvukutu, however, shifted the blame on Treasury which she said delayed to disburse money to enable the examination council to pay markers.

"Ordinary level examiners were paid 55 percent of their marking fees in February and they are owed 45 percent of the marking fees. The delay in the payments emanates from the delay in the release of the Grade Seven grant from Treasury. Zimsec used part of the Ordinary and Advanced level fees to run the Grade Seven examination.

"Zimsec can only improve on the payment of examiners when Treasury releases the promised subsidies," Ms Dzvukutu said.

She said the outstanding 45 percent would be paid as soon as Treasury released the outstanding funds.

She also responded to claims that the quality of examining was deteriorating as a result of an exodus of experienced examiners who were frustrated by Zimsec's failure to pay on time.

"The reports are not true. The council still has experienced examiners across all the subjects," she said.
Ms Dzvukutu went on to appreciate the loyalty and dedication shown by the examiners but reminded them that the council was partly funded by examination fees and Treasury.