Source: Record number of candidates for 2025 Zimsec exams – herald
Sunday Mail Reporter
A RECORD 355 633 Advanced and Ordinary Level candidates will sit this year’s Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) examinations, with the Government attributing the rise in the figure to the construction of more schools, opening of additional exam centres and the rollout of an early warning system that is helping to keep learners in school.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Mr Torerayi Moyo said the exams — already underway with early practicals — will see theory papers commence on October 13.
The ministry is projecting a 96 percent pass rate at A-Level and 33 percent at O-Level.
The Government’s early warning system, launched in 2023, was designed to identify learners at risk of dropping out by focusing on three pillars: reducing dropout rates, retaining every child in school and re-admitting those who had left.
Combined with increased classroom construction and additional exam centres across the country, this has enabled more learners to register for public examinations.
“In 2023, a total of 287 650 O-Level candidates and 35 000 A-Level candidates sat for the November exams,” said Minister Moyo.
“The numbers rose in 2024 to 309 752 O-Level candidates and 34 295 A-Level candidates.
“Now, in 2025, we have registered 318 341 O-Level and 37 292 A-Level candidates across 2 524 O-Level centres and 897 A-Level centres.
“This demonstrates both the accessibility of education and the resilience of our learners.”
Integrity
With the increase of exam candidates, the Government is working on maintaining the credibility of examinations.
While most of those entrusted with exam materials uphold high standards of integrity, Minister Moyo said, cases of malpractice have been noted, prompting stricter safeguards.
Since 2023, all high-stakes examination papers have been delivered to schools on the morning of the exam to prevent premature access.
The ministry has also deployed practising and retired teachers to oversee clusters where exam papers are kept, working closely with the police and State security agencies.
“We have worked with practising teachers and retired teachers to be in situ where all examination question papers are kept in clusters.
“We have also worked with the police and other State security agencies to guard question papers,” added Minister Moyo.
“Since 2023, the paper was/is delivered to schools — all high-stakes question papers — in the morning of the examinations.
“And we are also working with associations of heads at primary and secondary schools in emphasising the importance of safeguarding our national examinations. We have also worked on security features on question papers, which enable us to trace each and every question paper that we produce.”
These features allow the authorities to determine the authenticity of question papers, distinguish them from fake productions and trace the source of
any paper to the specific region and centre.“Embedded on all our question papers are unique and discrete security features that enable us to, inter alia, firstly determine the authenticity of the question papers and distinguish them from fake productions that usually flood our markets to hoodwink unsuspecting publics,” he said.
“Secondly, trace the source of the question papers to the region and the centre, and, therefore, the head of the examination centre in the event of a leakage or malpractice.”
The post Record number of candidates for 2025 Zimsec exams appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.