The Chronicle
21 November 2012
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) early this year received accolades from parents, pupils and other stakeholders for releasing the 2011 O-level and A-level results in a record time. The A-level results were out on 19 January while the O-level results were out on 31 January. This good record which had restored confidence in the examinations body was unfortunately short lived.
According to a story we published yesterday, Zimsec is yet to start marking the 2012 Grade Seven examinations. Schools are closing in about two weeks’ time and the Grade Seven results are supposed to be released before schools close to give parents adequate time to seek Form One places for their children.
Last year Zimsec finished marking Grade Seven examinations on 11 November and in 2010 the results were released on 2 December. Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said Zimsec was yet to receive money to mark the examinations from Treasury. Minister Coltart said Zimsec requires at least $1,5 million to pay markers and meet other expenses.
Minister Coltart said Zimsec could not hire markers before the release of the money. “The money has to be released first. We cannot contract the markers before receiving the money as doing so will create problems as we need to pay the markers soon after completing the work,†said Mr Coltart. He said he did not know when the money was likely to be released.
Public examinations, we want to emphasise, are a very crucial phase of a child’s education career. Examinations are used as a barometer or yardstick to assess whether or not pupils qualify to move to the next stage of the education ladder and should therefore not be taken lightly. What we are reading from Minister Coltart’s response is that he has surrendered everything to fate yet he is the responsible minister.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti cannot be allowed to tamper with the country’s education system by disturbing its smooth running. The delay in marking the examinations might not appear a big problem but the truth is that it will adversely affect the smooth running of the school system. The late release of results will mean delayed opening of schools or suspension of selection of Form One pupils based on Grade Seven results.
What we do not understand is Zimsec’s logic to wait until the last minute to raise alarm on the non-availability of money for markers. Zimsec should have budgeted for this money in the 2012 budget and should not be talking of release of the money when Treasury is about to close its books for this year. Treasury on its part should have made provision of these examinations in its 2012 budget and by now should have long released the money.
Minister Coltart and Minister Biti should just put their act together and ensure the money for the examinations is released as soon as possible. We do not want a situation whereby the marking of the examinations is compromised by putting markers under pressure to meet an already missed deadline.
The markers have to be trained first and thereafter should be given ample time to mark the papers. We do not want this situation whereby we move one step forward and then two backwards as what seems to be happening at Zimsec. Work to mark the examinations should start as soon as possible and treasury should prioritise the issue of examinations which, as we have already stated, are very critical in our education system.