The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) has expressed disappointment with the proposed changes to the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) Act. According to Zimta, the amendments do not adequately address the issues of exam credibility and security that have plagued the education system.
Zimsec has faced numerous challenges, including exam leakages, registration irregularities, and fraudulent practices. While the proposed amendments aim to tackle these issues, Zimta believes they fall short of expectations.
Zimta has raised several concerns regarding the proposed amendments. Firstly, the penalties for exam malpractice are deemed too harsh and fail to differentiate between minor and serious offenses. Secondly, the Zimsec board is granted too much power without sufficient external oversight, which could lead to further problems. Lastly, there is no requirement for public reporting on exam malpractice, investigations, or appeals, potentially exacerbating public distrust.
To address these concerns, Zimta suggests several key changes. These include classifying malpractice into tiers with graduated penalties, establishing an independent examination ombudsman to handle appeals and complaints, and mandating annual public disclosure of malpractice statistics, annulments, and disciplinary cases.
The credibility of Zimbabwe’s national exams has been compromised due to repeated paper leakages and system breaches. While the proposed amendments are a step in the right direction, Zimta believes they need to be more robust and effective to restore public trust in the education system.
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