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ZIMSEC set exams on a holiday
4 hrs ago | Views
The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) is in a race against time to notify candidates sitting for the mid-year Ordinary Level examinations about a sudden change in the exam schedule after two papers were mistakenly set for a public holiday.
According to the initial statements of entry issued to candidates, English Language and Combined Science exams were scheduled for Monday, May 26. However, this date has now been flagged as a public holiday due to Africa Day, which falls on Sunday, May 25, and will be observed on the following Monday, in line with Zimbabwe's public holiday laws.
ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicky Dlamini confirmed the scheduling error and announced that the affected exams would now be written earlier, on Friday, May 23.
"The dates were revisited and any exams scheduled for May 26 initially were brought forward to May 23," Dlamini told ZimLive.
While the correction has been made, concerns persist about whether all candidates – particularly private candidates who are not enrolled through formal school systems – have been made aware of the changes.
Dlamini assured the public that ZIMSEC had issued a circular to all examination centres alongside the statements of entry and emphasised that it is now the responsibility of each centre to inform its candidates of the revised schedule.
"All candidates will be advised by their centres. ZIMSEC is also communicating through its various channels," she said.
However, Dlamini could not provide immediate statistics on how many school-based and private candidates are affected by the shift in dates.
The blunder has sparked calls for greater diligence and transparency in examination scheduling, especially as private candidates may lack direct access to timely updates unless proactively contacted by centres or ZIMSEC itself.
This is not the first time ZIMSEC has come under scrutiny for logistical errors, and with examinations already a high-stress period for learners, education stakeholders are urging the council to intensify its efforts to ensure no student is disadvantaged by the revised calendar.
According to the initial statements of entry issued to candidates, English Language and Combined Science exams were scheduled for Monday, May 26. However, this date has now been flagged as a public holiday due to Africa Day, which falls on Sunday, May 25, and will be observed on the following Monday, in line with Zimbabwe's public holiday laws.
ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicky Dlamini confirmed the scheduling error and announced that the affected exams would now be written earlier, on Friday, May 23.
"The dates were revisited and any exams scheduled for May 26 initially were brought forward to May 23," Dlamini told ZimLive.
While the correction has been made, concerns persist about whether all candidates – particularly private candidates who are not enrolled through formal school systems – have been made aware of the changes.
Dlamini assured the public that ZIMSEC had issued a circular to all examination centres alongside the statements of entry and emphasised that it is now the responsibility of each centre to inform its candidates of the revised schedule.
"All candidates will be advised by their centres. ZIMSEC is also communicating through its various channels," she said.
However, Dlamini could not provide immediate statistics on how many school-based and private candidates are affected by the shift in dates.
The blunder has sparked calls for greater diligence and transparency in examination scheduling, especially as private candidates may lack direct access to timely updates unless proactively contacted by centres or ZIMSEC itself.
This is not the first time ZIMSEC has come under scrutiny for logistical errors, and with examinations already a high-stress period for learners, education stakeholders are urging the council to intensify its efforts to ensure no student is disadvantaged by the revised calendar.
Source - zimlive
