The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has
provisionally pushed back this year’s June examinations by a month.
The decision was reached by senior Zimsec officials last
week at a meeting to consider the impact of the current coronavirus lockdown on
the exams.
However, the exams management body has since completed
printing the examination papers.
Zimsec board chair, Professor Eddie Mwenje, said the
provisional dates were subject to change depending on the position taken by
Government at the end of the extended lockdown period next week.
“We met on Friday and managed to check the level of
preparedness by Zimsec and they have completed printing of the papers for the
June examinations. We can say that they are ready to stage the examinations. What
we have advised them to do is to push the starting date by two to four weeks,”
he said.
He added that the body took into consideration that
candidates for the June exams would ordinarily have been studying for a long
time.
“So, we advised Zimsec to consider pushing the exams by a
minimum two weeks and maximum of four weeks so that it does not clash with
other lessons for the November examinations.
“Instead of the exams beginning late May, they may be
pushed to begin mid-June.
“Although there is no extension for the June examinations
registration, we are considering pushing the dates.
“We also spoke of social distancing during these
examinations.
“However, all this is also subject to Government
pronouncement on May 3 when the current lockdown ends.”
There had been debate on how the June examinations would be
handled in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr
Takavafira Zhou said it was possible for the exams to be written in June.
“Schools were closed in March, so candidates had enough
time to prepare,” he said. “I see no harm in starting the exams two weeks after
the original date.” Sunday Mail
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