The Chronicle
Chronicle Reporter
27 March 2009
THE Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) 2008 Ordinary and Advanced Level results will be released next month, the Minister of Education, Arts, Sport and Culture, Senator David Coltart, said yesterday.
Speaking in a telephone interview from Harare, Minister Coltart said marking of the 2008 final examinations was almost complete, adding that results should be expected before the end of April.
“The results will be out before the end of the schools holiday, that is, sometime in April,†he said.
Minister Coltart paid tribute to the more than 3 500 markers who turned out despite the financial constraints facing the examination body.
The ZIMSEC 2008 final examinations marking was delayed due to a year-long teachers’ strike that almost crippled the education system.
Minister Coltart pleaded with markers to be patient with the Government as it finalises the payment process.
He said payment was delayed due to an administrative problem at the Ministry.
Minister Coltart said the Government was working closely with the United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) to make sure that markers were paid before the end of next week.
“We want to assure examination markers that they will get their payment next week. We apologise that we have not been able to pay them on time and this was due to an administrative problem,†said the Minister.
However, the Government is working tirelessly to address the plight of teachers. The Government has since started paying civil servants in foreign currency and they received US$100 this month.
The money has been received as with a sigh of relief by most Government workers who were battling to make ends meet owing to the ravaging effects of hyperinflation.
Schools have been instructed to enroll Form Ones and Lower Sixth Forms using mid-year examination results.