Staff Reporter
Cabinet yesterday announced the suspension of the 2021 June Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) examinations, citing disturbances due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Addressing the media soon after the meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the affected Ordinary and Advanced Level students will write their examinations with the rest of the students in November this year.
‘’Cabinet considered and approved a request for the suspension of the Zimsec June 2021 Ordinary and Advanced Level examination session, which was presented by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education.
‘’Cabinet was advised that the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 had negatively impacted on the timing and cycle of public examinations, with the 2020 Grade 7, O-level and A Level examinations having commenced early December 2020 and ended in February 2021, instead of the usual period stretching from October to November of each year. The delay in writing and the marking of the previous examinations has affected the preparation and setting of the next examination hence the decision to temporarily suspend the June examinations,’’ said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The Minister said the suspension of the June 2021 examination session will allow for timely focus on the November examination preparations and aid an effective focus of resources. She said that logistics will be put in place to ensure that candidates who may have wanted to sit for their examination in June 2021 do so together with other students in November 2021.
Meanwhile, Teachers among others are being vaccinated under the second phase of the vaccination drive currently underway.
Other Covid-19 related measures announced yesterday include new higher-security vaccination certificates to prevent forgeries and permission for casinos to re-open under strict covid-19 rules and regulations.
The country is rolling out its vaccination drive which started on February 18 after receiving vaccines from China and is targeting to inoculate at least 10 million out of 16 million citizens to achieve herd immunity.
As at 07 April 2021 Zimbabwe had 36 984 confirmed cases, including 34 803 recoveries and 1 531 deaths. To-date a total of 153 238 people have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
