Govt sets Grade 7 exam fees

Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister Paul Mavima, yesterday told the National Assembly that Grade 7 examination fees had been set at $3.

Mavima said schoolchildren would start paying for the examination fees at Grade 5, parting with $1 every year.

"They are saying the purpose of this fund is to ensure Grade 7 exams are funded and efficient," Mavima said.

"They were saying students should contribute $1 per year towards examination fees for Grade 7, and they also had an option for these students to contribute $1 per year from Grade 5 to Grade 7 so that when they are in Grade 7 they would have contributed $3 towards their exam fees."  

When Kuwadzana East MP Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) argued that the fee contravened the Constitution, which advocates for free primary education, Mavima defended the decision saying the nominal fee was necessary to meet some of the costs involved in the administration of Grade 7 examinations.

He said the proposed $3 fee was highly subsidised as Grade 7 examinations cost $7 per student.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said he was doubtful if the biometric voters' roll would be used in the June 10 by-elections as there were inadequate resources for its implementation.