The November 2019 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council’s
Advanced Level results are out with girls outsmarting boys, again.
A marginal 1,2 percent increase in the pass rate has been
achieved from 81,9 percent in 2018.
The results which were announced by Zimsec board chairman,
Professor Eddie Mwenje in Harare yesterday brought a silver lining to the
country’s education system as a decline in pass rates was being recorded over
the years.
Both the November 2019 Zimsec Grade Seven and the Higher
Education Examination Council (Hexco) recorded a decline in pass rates.
The Grade Seven pass rate declined to 46,9 percent in 2019
from 52,08 in 2018, while the Hexco pass rate declined from 74.1 percent in
2018 to 58,3 percent.
Announcing the results, which candidates can now collect
from their respective centres or access online, Prof Mwenje said: “The total
number of candidates who sat for the November 2019 examination was 51 862. The
candidature increased by 5 348 from 46 478 in 2018, which translates to an
increase of 11,6 percent.
“In 2019, 50 774 candidates wrote two or more subjects and
42 1 69 obtained Grade E or better in two or more subjects. This translated to
83,1 percent pass rate, an increase of 1,2 percentage points from 81,9 percent
as recorded in 2018.”
Public schools had more candidates compared to the mushrooming
private schools. The total number of school candidates was 42 543, of this
number 42 157 wrote two or more subjects.
A total of 36 515 candidates obtained Grade E or better in
two or more subjects, yielding a pass rate of 86, 6 percent compared to a pass
rate of 65,6 percent pass rate recorded by private candidates.
The total number of private candidates was 9 319, while 8
617 wrote two or more subjects.
“The number of school female candidates that set for the
2019 A’ Level examinations was 19 877. Out of this number, 19 689 wrote two or
more subjects and 17 525 passed two or more subjects, yielding a 89 percent
pass-rate.
“There were 22 666 male candidates and 18 990 passed two or
more subjects, translating to 84,5 percent,” said Prof Mwenje. Special needs candidates were 55 and 35 candidates passed
two or more subjects.
While the general pass rate was high, most science subject
learners find the going tough and recorded a 31,6 percent pass rate.
“It is important for the nation to note that out of 17 749
candidates who registered to write Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics
5 610 passed two or more subjects with a Grade E or better.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education needs to
closely look into this area. There could be a number of factors which need
further interrogation that could be contributing to this poor performance. We
need to closely look at each subject because these are the second results from
the recently introduced competency-based curriculum.
“The other contributing factor can be that science subjects
require a lot of input and equipment which most schools do not possess,” said
Prof Mwenje.
Director of one of Mutare’s leading private schools, First
Class Academy, Mr Stephen Mutsongodza, said the increase in this year’s pass
rate was welcome news to the education sector.
Mr Mutsongodza also hailed the girl child for going the
extra mile in producing better results every year.
“Girls have been doing wonders in schools and they should
continue working hard.
“We need more ladies in positions of authority like Cdes
Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (Minister of Defence and War Veterans) and Monica
Mutsvangwa (Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services), Mrs Chipo Mtasa
(TelOne managing director) and Captain Chipo Matimba (a woman pilot). Herald
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