Herald
7 June 2010
Harare — PROSPECTIVE candidates for the November 2010 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations will be required to pay a late registration fee of US$5 per subject, the Government has announced adding there would be no extension to the May 28 deadline.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart and the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council on Friday issued statements dismissing reports that there was confusion surrounding the registration deadline.
Minister Coltart said needy pupils under Beam were the “only” ones to get Government assistance while those who failed to register by the stipulated date would be required to pay an extra US$5 per subject as penalty for late registration.
“There is no confusion at all and we have not extended anything. The position is the deadline expired on May 28 and we are sticking to that.
“Only students already under Beam would benefit from the State, not everyone. If students are not under the programme they should pay US$5 penalty fee per subject. For efficiency purposes we cannot always continue extending registration each year and that is the reason why we gave parents a lengthy period to look for fees,” he said.
Minister Coltart said the state of the economy meant parents should strive to educate their children.
“Because of a tight fiscal squeeze, Government can only pay for orphans and other vulnerable students. Parents should devise methods to ensure their children write examinations,” he said.
Minister Coltart said the Government was doing enough by subsidising the students’ registration fees compared to Cambridge examinations.
Ordinary and Advanced Level pupils are required to pay US$10 and US$20 per subject respectively.
Zimsec public relations manager Mr Ezekiel Pasipamire added: “There is no deadline extension but there is a normal facility always afforded to candidates registering for the November examinations.
“Students must register through the late entry registration process whereby they have to pay a penalty fee.
“As far as Zimsec is concerned, there is no confusion with regard to the registration process as centres, parents, guardians and candidates were fully aware of the registration deadline.”
Mr Pasipamire said the examination body was still studying the registration levels and would soon announce the total number of registered candidates.
Last year, thousands of prospective candidates failed to sit for their examinations owing to “exorbitant” fees.
It is highly likely that the same scenario could be experienced this year.