The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has come under scrutiny after mistakenly scheduling Ordinary Level exams on a national public holiday.
According to a schedule released earlier this month, students were set to sit for English Language and Combined Science papers on Monday, May 26. However, officials later realized the date coincides with the observance of Africa Day, which falls on Sunday, May 25. In accordance with Zimbabwean law, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is recognized as the official day off.
In response, ZIMSEC moved the affected exams forward by three days.
“The dates were revisited and any exams scheduled for May 26 initially were brought forward to May 23,”
— ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicky Dlamini told ZimLive.
Concerns Over Communication
While ZIMSEC has issued corrections to registered schools, concerns remain about whether private candidates—those not affiliated with formal institutions—have been adequately informed of the revised schedule.
“A circular was sent out to all schools along with the statements of entry. All candidates will be advised by their centres,”
— Dlamini said.
ZIMSEC also stated that it is using its various communication channels to disseminate updates. However, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of these channels, especially in rural areas with limited connectivity.
“We picked it up early, but not everyone did. It’s worrying for independent learners,” said a Harare school administrator, who requested anonymity.
Another teacher expressed frustration over the oversight:
“ZIMSEC must do better. These are public exams. This kind of mistake causes unnecessary stress for learners.”
Uncertainty for Private Candidates
As of Thursday, there was no official word on how many students were affected by the scheduling change or whether any missed the revised exam dates. Some stakeholders fear that late or inadequate communication could result in absenteeism for the rescheduled papers.
With just over a week remaining before the rescheduled examinations, there are increasing calls for more transparent and effective communication from ZIMSEC. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has not yet issued a public statement on the matter.
