Story by Memory Chamisa
THERE has been a marginal improvement in Grade Seven results after an overall pass rate of 49 percent this year.
This was revealed by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) while announcing the 2024 Grade Seven results in Harare this Friday.
Announcing the results, ZIMSEC chairperson Professor Paul Mapfumo said a national pass rate of 49.1 percent was recorded, up from 45.57% last year.
“A total of 387 429 candidates sat for one to six subjects during the 2024 Grade 7 examinations as compared to 372 603 candidates who sat for the same examination in 2023 showing a 3.98% increase in candidature.
“The 2024 Grade 7 Examination session recorded a national pass rate of 49.01% for candidates who sat for six subjects. This is an increase of 3.44% in candidates’ performance from last year’s pass rate of 45.57%. The increase in pass rate can be attributed to various interventions by the Ministry Primary and Secondary Education in terms of teaching and learning.
“All subjects recorded pass rates of above 50% in 2024 with Shona and Physical Education & / cording above 80% respectively as compared to other subjects. Generally, there was an increase in pass rate in all the subjects except less than one percent decrease in Shona. Xhosa was examined for the first time in 2024 and recorded a pass rate of 72 percent.
“Of the 387 429 candidates who sat for the 2024 Grade 7 examination, 199 939 were female. The pass rate for female candidates was 53.68% compared to 43, 99% of males. In the 2023 examination, female candidates were again doing better than male candidates,” he said.
Professor Mapfumo also noted the steady increase in candidature and performance of special needs students.
“A total of 328 special needs candidates sat for a range of subjects from 5 to 6. Of these, 194 wrote 6 subjects and 134 with Hard of Hearing sat for 5 subjects yielding an overall average percentage pass rate of 37.19% for all learners with special needs. In 2023 the pass rate was 42, 99 % and there were 357 candidates.
“It is important to note that there has been a steady increase in the candidature and the performance of these candidates passing with a grade 6 or better in six subjects for the past five years. Candidature steadily rose from 327 559 in 2020 to 387 429 in 2024 while the pass rate ranged from 37.11% in 2020 to 49.01% in 2024.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to all those who were involved in the 2024 Grade 7 Examination processes. ZIMSEC received the much-needed support from all stakeholders of this examination, of particular mention are, the teachers, markers, ZIMSEC staff, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The efforts and sacrifices of all involved have all contributed to the successful progression of the Zimbabwean education system for the betterment of our future generations.”
School Heads will collect results from their respective ZIMSEC Regional Offices on Monday, while the online results portal is now open for viewing results.
