Herald
21 May 2010
By Herald Reporter
There will be no reprieve for November 2010 public examinations candidates who fail to beat their schools’ registration deadlines, a Cabinet Minister has said.
In an interview yesterday, Education, Sports, Art and Culture Minister David Coltart said schools had the right to set their own deadlines for administrative purposes ahead of the Zimsec registration cut-off date. Many schools have set today as their deadline. The Zimsec deadline is May 28 and schools should have submitted their candidate lists by then.
Parents and guardians have said they are waiting for their May salaries and hence cannot meet the schools’ deadlines.
Registration fees are US$10 and US$20 per subject for Ordinary and Advanced Level exams respectively.
“Government cannot always extend deadlines because Zimsec has other administrative issues to attend to for the smooth flowing of the whole examination process. “There is need to harmonise internal and examination body deadlines as continuous extensions would cause administrative hiccups,” Minister Coltart said. He said parents should not always rely on Government for assistance.
“We gave parents a lengthy period but the problem is that many parents are disorganised and just wait for assistance. Government cannot mother everyone,” he said.
Schools such as Prince Edward in Harare are charging more per subject than the Zimsec fees.
Minister Coltart said the Basic Education Assistance Module would be extended to cover as many candidates from poor backgrounds as possible.
“Government will assist those students who fail to register because of poverty. The selection process will be done with the help of school and social welfare authorities,” he said.
Schools polled yesterday made it clear that they would not be extending their deadlines.
“This is the only way we can ensure the process sails through. It is sad but we have to make progress,” said a teacher at Girls High School.
Authorities at Dzivarasekwa High and Kuwadzana 2 High schools reiterated the same sentiments.
However, a teacher at Marikopo Secondary School in Seke said the situation was dire in rural areas.