Grade 7 candidates increase as Zimsec tightens security

THERE has been an increase in the number of candidates set to sit for this year’s Zimsec Grade Seven examinations that commence on 26 September with the examining body saying it has tightened its internal security systems to ensure the integrity of the exams.

This year’s public examination timetable reverted to the traditional period before the advent of Covid-19 that disrupted the whole education process in the past two years. In 2020 and 2021, examination dates were disrupted to the extent that other papers spilled over into the following year.

While assuring its state of preparedness, Zimsec public relations manager Ms Nicky Dlamini said there had been an increase in the number of candidates set to sit for this year’s Grade Seven examinations.

“The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council is fully prepared for the scheduled Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced Level Examinations, with all processes on schedule. There is a general increase in candidature. Grade Seven entries for 2021 were 325 573 and this year we have 358 290 entries,” said Ms Dlamini.

With the general sentiments being that the exams commenced “early” this year, Ms Dlamini said it was the normal time for examinations that obtained pre-Covid-19 pandemic.

“Examinations are scheduled to begin on 26 September. This is not early, we have simply reverted to the examination cycle as it was before the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ms Dlamini.

With the commencement of public exams, fears have also been raised over different forms of examination malpractice. The issue of leaked examination papers has over the years risen, threatening the credibility of the whole examinations process and the education system as a whole.

So rampant has been examination malpractice with Sunday News last week unearthing a scam by a Harare trio purporting to be selling Zimsec November 2022 examination papers for six different subjects. This was after a social media advert that read: “We sell November 2022 ZIMSEC papers at a very affordable price. NB. We only have access to the examination papers of the following subjects: Mathematics, Combined Science, English Language, Shona Language, Geography and History,” was published.

With these and other reports of examination malpractice, the examining body says it is continuously improving its internal security systems while calling for all stakeholders to play a role in shunning examination malpractice.

Six subjects are being examined for the Grade Seven and the Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA) marks will contribute ideally 30 percent to the final mark of the candidates. Ms Dlamini further encouraged all candidates and administrators to continue to practice Covid-19 prevention protocols such as sanitising of hands and wearing of masks indoors so as to subdue the spread of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, director of communications and advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Mr Taungana Ndoro said schools were prepared for this year’s public examinations.