Herald
24 June 2010
By Felex Share
Government will assist all eligible needy candidates who failed to register for the November 2010 public examinations, a Cabinet minister has said.
In addition, the State has released US$1,8 million for candidates under the Basic Education Assistance Module.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart yesterday said apart from the Beam facility, the Government would pay exam fees for six Ordinary Level subjects and four Advanced Level subjects — including the General Paper — for poor students.
He said those who had registered less than six O-Level subjects would also be assisted.
Minister Coltart said secondary school heads will convene in Masvingo today to discuss the modalities and must thereafter submit lists of unregistered students to provincial education directors before July 2.
“The ministry is aware that there are children who have failed to register for the examinations due to poverty and adverse economic factors.
“Sensitive to the plight of such children, Government has decided that all school headmasters with candidates who have failed to register as a result of failure to raise examination fees, should, with immediate effect, compile lists of such candidates and submit them to the ministry.
“Provincial education directors should in turn submit consolidated lists to the permanent secretary before the stipulated deadline,” he said.
Minister Coltart said there was still sufficient time to accommodate the affected candidates.
“After all, these exams will be written in November so there is enough time to ensure every eligible child sits for the examinations.
“It will be a travesty of justice if a child who has worked so hard for all these years is denied the chance at the last hurdle because of money.
“Government is absolutely committed and has decided to take extra measures to ensure that these future leaders are not left out,” he said.
The minister urged school heads to fast-track compilation of the lists to allow Government to make budgetary arrangements.
Commenting on the Beam facility, Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa said out of the US$15 million reserved for the programme, US$1,8 million would be used for examination fees.
“The money for the facility has been made available and it is only left to the Finance Ministry to distribute it to the relevant beneficiaries.
“The money will only benefit those students chosen by the selection committee using the necessary requirements,” she said.
Only 23 percent of the total prospective candidates will benefit from the facility.
Last year, thousands of students failed to register for the examinations owing to “exorbitant fees”.
The same situation was likely to be experienced this year.
Exam fees are US$10 and US$20 per O’ and A-Level subject respectively respectively.