Source: Govt clarifies transition for Cambridge learners as ZIMSEC becomes compulsory – herald
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has clarified the transition arrangement for learners currently under the Cambridge curriculum, confirming that the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) will become the sole examinations body for all national examinations from next year.
Addressing concerns over the policy shift, director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said a structured framework had been put in place to ensure affected learners were not disadvantaged.
“For learners currently in Form Three and Lower Six who are on the Cambridge route, the 2027 timeline is deliberate and fair. These learners will sit ZIMSEC O Level and A Level examinations respectively when they reach their final examination year,” he said.
Mr Ndoro said the directive, announced by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Professor Torerayi Moyo, made compliance mandatory for all schools.
“After 2027, compliance will not be optional. All schools will register candidates solely through Zimsec for the national examinations that confer the national qualification,” he said.
Mr Ndoro said the policy is anchored in the Education Act (Chapter 25:04), which provides for a single national curriculum and examination system.
“This is not a policy choice; it is a constitutional and legal imperative grounded in the Education Act. Section 63 mandates a single national curriculum, which can only be assessed with integrity by a single national examinations board,” he said.
Mr Ndoro said regulations under Section 69 of the Act empower the minister to enforce compliance across all schools.
He said Cambridge examinations have not been abolished but will be treated as a secondary option, subject to approval.
“Any school that wishes to offer Cambridge examinations alongside ZIMSEC must submit a formal application with compelling justification, demonstrating how learners will manage both syllabi without compromising performance on the national assessment,” Mr Ndoro said.
He said the reform is aimed at standardising assessment and addressing inequalities within the education system.
“This reform dismantles a long-standing, unjust two-tier system that has falsely divided our children along socio-economic lines,” Mr Ndoro said.
“National qualifications have been wrongly perceived as inferior to international ones — a fallacy the Government can no longer entertain.”
He said the move aligns with the Heritage-Based Curriculum and Vision 2030 and Zimsec qualifications are widely recognised by universities and employers.
The Government has since urged all stakeholders in the education sector to support the transition process, saying mechanisms are in place to ensure a smooth implementation ahead of the 2027 deadline.
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