Govt probes results mix-up

The Herald

13 April 2013

Scores of pupils who sat for Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations last year are yet to receive their results amid allegations of negligence being levelled against some schools.

A-Level results were released at the beginning of the year while O-Level results were released in February 2013 but it has since emerged that some pupils are yet to get their results.

Some candidates are reported to have got result slips that had grades for subjects that they did not sit for.

Government, through the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, is now set to launch investigations into the matter after the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council distanced itself from the mix up.

Education Minister Senator David Coltart urged the affected candidates to take their cases to the nearest education offices for assistance.

“This is a matter of urgency. They should utilise those relevant offices in their districts and give the details of their specific problem so that we can investigate and address these matters,” he said.

Zimsec has since distanced it from the exam mix-up with the examination’s body’s director, Mr Essau Nhandara, accusing some school headmasters of negligence. Mr Nhandara said school authorities are afforded enough time to address discrepancies they would have noted when students register to write exams.

“Students register for specific subjects by using a colour code. This happens around March every year. Students then receive an examination entry form sometime in July. It is at this stage that any discrepancies between students’ registrations and what is listed on the entry form can be corrected,” he said.

Meanwhile, the majority of the students who are yet to secure their results are now in limbo as they cannot proceed with their education.