Teachers’ unions have called for the extension of the 2022 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examinations registration deadline which opened from 22 to 29 July.
This comes amid reports that thousands of learners may fail to sit for the examinations because parents and guardians throughout the country have failed to raise the registration fees.
Some schools are reportedly demanding payment exclusively in United States dollars, claiming that they do not have swipe machines or other RTGS payment facilities.
Others had set their own deadline of 27 July because they needed time to reconcile all the payments, including those that were made via bank transfers.
ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicholette Dlamini said an extension of the deadline will be considered based on the recommendations from the reports submitted by the examination centres. She said:
ZIMSEC deadlines are set with the belief that parents and guardians will meet the deadlines.
After the set deadlines, reports will be submitted from centres along with recommendations which will inform ZIMSEC in order to make decisions pertaining to the registration window without prejudice to the candidates.
ZIMSEC opened registration for Grade 7, Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations for this year from 22 to 29 July.
The fees are payable in United States dollars or the equivalent in Zimbabwe dollars at a rate of US$1:$455.
Zimbabwe National Union of School Heads (NASH) secretary-general Munyaradzi Majoni said:
The situation is dire as parents are failing to afford the fees. There is a need for ZIMSEC to be considerate and extend the deadline.
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