386 000 candidates begin Zimsec exams

More than 386 000 candidates are set to begin the 2026 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations today, with authorities assuring the nation that preparations are complete and security measures have been strengthened to protect the integrity of the examinations.

The examinations will be conducted at more than 3 500 centres nationwide, with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education working alongside Zimsec, provincial and district education offices, school heads and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth process.

Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said preparations were sufficiently advanced for the examinations to commence as scheduled on October 12.

"We are satisfied that preparations are sufficiently advanced for the examinations to commence on 12 October," he said, adding that readiness assessments covered classroom infrastructure, electricity, water and sanitation, staffing, accessibility for candidates with disabilities and the security of examination materials.

Ndoro said contingency arrangements had been put in place to address outstanding operational challenges and prevent avoidable disruptions from denying registered candidates the opportunity to write their examinations.

This year, Zimsec has introduced traceable question papers and personalised answer sheets as part of measures to tighten examination security and prevent malpractice.

"The traceability feature allows a question paper to be associated with the centre to which it was allocated, while personalised answer sheets strengthen controls against script substitution or the introduction of outside scripts," Ndoro said.

He said the safeguards covered the entire examination chain, from printing and packaging to distribution, storage and use.

Examination materials will be handled under controlled procedures involving Zimsec, the Ministry, examination officials, school heads and security agencies.

Ndoro said authorities would not tolerate examination paper leakage, impersonation, cheating, collusion, unauthorised materials or any other attempt to compromise the credibility of the examinations.

The Ministry and Zimsec have also been monitoring the deployment of invigilators, supervisors, monitors and other personnel to ensure that all examination centres are adequately staffed.

Contingency plans are in place to address potential disruptions arising from transport and logistical delays, electricity and communication challenges, adverse weather conditions and staffing shortages.

"We are looking at the examination process from the perspective of risk prevention rather than simply responding after something has gone wrong," Ndoro said.

He acknowledged that candidates had prepared under different circumstances, with some schools and communities experiencing shortages of learning materials, staffing challenges and interruptions to lessons.

The Ministry, he said, was working to ensure that candidates across the country sat the examinations under conditions that were as fair and comparable as possible.

"Our responsibility is not merely to open examination rooms on 12 October. Our responsibility is to protect the integrity of the entire examination process," he said.

"That means ensuring that the candidate in Harare and the candidate in Chivi, the candidate in an urban school and the candidate in a remote rural centre, are all presented with the same examination paper under conditions that are as fair and comparable as reasonably possible."

Ndoro urged candidates to remain focused and observe examination regulations, while parents and guardians were encouraged to provide support. Teachers and examination officials were also reminded to uphold their professional responsibilities.

"The examinations belong to the candidates and to the nation. Every stakeholder has a responsibility to ensure that they are conducted with integrity, fairness and credibility," he said.