News / National
Zimbabwe govt caps O and A-level exam subjects
12 hrs ago |
935 Views
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has announced that it will tighten its policies on subject capping for both Ordinary and Advanced Level students this year, limiting O-level learners to a maximum of nine subjects and restricting A-level students to the standard three subjects.
The move is aimed at ensuring learners study and sit for examinations in line with recommended standards that promote quality learning and improved outcomes under the Heritage-Based Curriculum, which is being fully implemented this year. The decision comes amid renewed public debate sparked by the exceptional performance of Mukudzei Ziveyi, a Pamushana High School student from Masvingo Province, who scored 56 points in the 2025 A-level examinations after sitting for 12 subjects, far beyond the prescribed three.
While Ziveyi's achievement was widely celebrated, it also drew criticism from sections of the public who argued that such an academic load is unnecessarily burdensome and risks creating a culture in which learners feel pressured to take on excessive subjects at the expense of meaningful learning.
Clarifying the ministry's position, Director of Communication and Advocacy Taungana Ndoro said Government policy is clear and has already been revised to enforce strict limits on the number of examinable subjects.
"To ensure depth of learning, quality of instruction and the integrity of learner outcomes, the ministry has instituted a cap on the number of examinable subjects. The standard is a maximum of nine subjects at Ordinary Level and three principal subjects at Advanced Level in the Heritage-Based Curriculum," Ndoro said.
He explained that the policy is designed to promote focused and in-depth mastery of core learning areas rather than the accumulation of numerous subjects. Ndoro added that strict capping also helps prevent learner burnout and ensures consistency across the education system.
"This decisive move aims to promote profound understanding and competency, prevent excessive academic overload and align all schools and learners with a standardised, manageable curriculum framework," he said.
Previously, Government subsidised 55 percent of the cost of final examinations for learners in public, local authority and mission schools, including private candidates, for up to seven subjects at O-level and three subjects at A-level. Any additional subjects beyond those limits were paid for in full by the learners.
In a recent interview with Zimpapers, Ziveyi revealed that he endured long nights of study to prepare for all 12 subjects, often taking only 15-minute breaks between examinations. To avoid timetable clashes, Pamushana High School applied for a special deviation from the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec). He also attended just one lesson per week for each subject, far less than the recommended instructional time.
Ndoro stressed that the three-subject cap at A-level is aligned with tertiary education requirements both locally and internationally.
"We align this with tertiary expectations to meet standard entry requirements of universities and colleges. Our focus now is on ensuring compliance and supporting schools and learners to achieve excellence within this structured framework," he said.
In Zimbabwe, most universities require a maximum of 15 A-level points for entry into degree programmes, while the minimum requirement to progress to A-level is five O-level passes, with some courses demanding specific subject prerequisites.
The ministry also dismissed claims of systemic grade inflation, insisting that examination standards remain intact.
"The ministry firmly rejects unsubstantiated claims of systemic grade inflation. Zimsec employs a rigorous, multi-stage quality assurance process, including pre-marking standardisation, continuous moderation and post-marking statistical reviews," Ndoro said.
He added that improved pass rates are a result of better teaching methods, increased learner commitment and targeted government interventions, rather than a lowering of standards.
"We remain confident in the robustness and credibility of our national examination system," he said.
The move is aimed at ensuring learners study and sit for examinations in line with recommended standards that promote quality learning and improved outcomes under the Heritage-Based Curriculum, which is being fully implemented this year. The decision comes amid renewed public debate sparked by the exceptional performance of Mukudzei Ziveyi, a Pamushana High School student from Masvingo Province, who scored 56 points in the 2025 A-level examinations after sitting for 12 subjects, far beyond the prescribed three.
While Ziveyi's achievement was widely celebrated, it also drew criticism from sections of the public who argued that such an academic load is unnecessarily burdensome and risks creating a culture in which learners feel pressured to take on excessive subjects at the expense of meaningful learning.
Clarifying the ministry's position, Director of Communication and Advocacy Taungana Ndoro said Government policy is clear and has already been revised to enforce strict limits on the number of examinable subjects.
"To ensure depth of learning, quality of instruction and the integrity of learner outcomes, the ministry has instituted a cap on the number of examinable subjects. The standard is a maximum of nine subjects at Ordinary Level and three principal subjects at Advanced Level in the Heritage-Based Curriculum," Ndoro said.
He explained that the policy is designed to promote focused and in-depth mastery of core learning areas rather than the accumulation of numerous subjects. Ndoro added that strict capping also helps prevent learner burnout and ensures consistency across the education system.
"This decisive move aims to promote profound understanding and competency, prevent excessive academic overload and align all schools and learners with a standardised, manageable curriculum framework," he said.
Previously, Government subsidised 55 percent of the cost of final examinations for learners in public, local authority and mission schools, including private candidates, for up to seven subjects at O-level and three subjects at A-level. Any additional subjects beyond those limits were paid for in full by the learners.
In a recent interview with Zimpapers, Ziveyi revealed that he endured long nights of study to prepare for all 12 subjects, often taking only 15-minute breaks between examinations. To avoid timetable clashes, Pamushana High School applied for a special deviation from the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec). He also attended just one lesson per week for each subject, far less than the recommended instructional time.
Ndoro stressed that the three-subject cap at A-level is aligned with tertiary education requirements both locally and internationally.
"We align this with tertiary expectations to meet standard entry requirements of universities and colleges. Our focus now is on ensuring compliance and supporting schools and learners to achieve excellence within this structured framework," he said.
In Zimbabwe, most universities require a maximum of 15 A-level points for entry into degree programmes, while the minimum requirement to progress to A-level is five O-level passes, with some courses demanding specific subject prerequisites.
The ministry also dismissed claims of systemic grade inflation, insisting that examination standards remain intact.
"The ministry firmly rejects unsubstantiated claims of systemic grade inflation. Zimsec employs a rigorous, multi-stage quality assurance process, including pre-marking standardisation, continuous moderation and post-marking statistical reviews," Ndoro said.
He added that improved pass rates are a result of better teaching methods, increased learner commitment and targeted government interventions, rather than a lowering of standards.
"We remain confident in the robustness and credibility of our national examination system," he said.
Source - Sunday News
Join the discussion
Loading comments…
