Story by Memory Chamisa
GOVERNMENT will introduce a single examination board for Ordinary and Advanced Level students from 2027, a move aimed at promoting equity, standardisation, and quality across Zimbabwe’s education system.
Under the new arrangement, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council will become the primary examination authority for all O-Level and A-Level learners.
The decision is intended to address concerns that the current dual examination system, which includes both ZIMSEC and Cambridge examinations, has created disparities among learners based largely on financial capacity.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Torerayi Moyo, said the reform is designed to ensure equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their socio-economic background.
He noted that schools wishing to offer Cambridge examinations, either exclusively or alongside ZIMSEC, will be required to provide compelling justification for Government approval.
The Minister said the move is in line with international best practice, citing countries such as the United Kingdom, where a unified national examination framework ensures consistency across the education sector.
The proposal has sparked mixed reactions among parents and guardians.
Supporters argue that a single examination board will create a level playing field, strengthen confidence in the national education system, and reinforce the objectives of Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum.
Others, however, believe parents should retain the freedom to choose the examination system that best suits their children’s needs and aspirations.
The reform also complements Government’s broader efforts to improve educational standards.
Earlier this year, authorities announced tighter subject capping regulations, limiting O-Level learners to a maximum of nine subjects and A-Level students to the standard three subjects.
The measures are intended to promote focused learning, improve academic outcomes, and align assessment practices with the goals of the Heritage-Based Curriculum.
If successfully implemented, the single examination board policy is expected to enhance fairness, consistency, and inclusivity in Zimbabwe’s education system.
