A section of parents in Bulawayo have expressed concern over the limited time they were given to pay for November public examinations saying they were not given adequate time to raise the required fees considering the prevailing economic situation.
Parents who spoke to The Chronicle said some schools notified them with two weeks left before the closing date for registration. Said Mrs Thobekile Dube:
I think it’s unfair. Normally when registration opens, it would be announced when there is ample time to look for money but now I only saw my child coming with a school form indicating the subjects they are registering. I’ve another A-Level student who must register. It’s hard for us, we need time.
Mr Isaiah Mandaza said his Upper Sixth Form child came home telling him about the deadline on the first of this month and he has to look for funds to hurriedly pay. Parents also said they were not aware of Zimsec’s two-year payment plan for examinations. However, Zimsec Public Relations Officer Ms Nicholette Dhlamini said parents were given ample time to pay for exam registration. Dhlamini said Zimsec only announced deadlines to exam centres and not to parents and it was up to the centres to give parents a deadline to pay.
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