The Sunday Mail
7 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 take an exam 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 (Zimsec) 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.
“As the Education ministry we encourage all those students who are affected to contact their local district education officer, failing that the local provincial education director, failing that the permanent secretary and failing that my office is open to these children and their parents for immediate assistance.
“This is a matter of urgency. They should choose — 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.
However, Senator Coltart refused to point the finger of blame at anyone.
“Without knowing the details of individual cases it is impossible to ascertain who is to blame for the non-receipt of results,†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.