Zimbabwe
Public Hearings on ZIMSEC Bill: A step Towards Accountability, Credibility and Transparency on School Examinations.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education has embarked on public hearings on amending the ZIMSEC Act of 1994 which is deemed to be outdated and incompatible with contemporary society.
These public hearings are set to run from the 25th to the 29th of August 2025.
ZIMSEC was established in 1994 by an Act of Parliament and was mandated with the powers to consider and approve subjects suitable for examinations and subsequent conferment of certificates to individuals that would have passed the examinations.
Most importantly, ZIMSEC has the sole responsibility to maintain integrity of examinations at primary and secondary level in Zimbabwe since examinations play an important role both in the assessment of learning and selection of candidates for subsequent stages of education or employment.
In recent years, there have been concerns over the credibility and integrity of examinations as well as the alleged lack of maintenance of assessment standards and the prevalent technical challenges characterized by examination leaks coupled with the administration of wrong papers during an exam.
Perennial leaking of papers and persistent disruptions of ZIMSEC examinations on an annual basis generated negative perceptions on the credibility of the examination process, and thus, the amendment bill should be seen as a process to restore public confidence in the examination system.
It is important to note that current social, political, economic and cultural trends have proven to influence the shift of educational standards towards greater emphasis on accountability, credibility and transparency.
The Zimbabwean citizenry must utilize these public hearings as it is a common platform within our constitutional framework towards the promotion of deliberative democracy.
Public hearings are a positive development in our governance system as they typically provide an opportunity for the public to offer their views on the proposed bill.
The proposed bill comes at an opportune time where the examination needs of our society have undergone rapid changes as influenced by technological advancements.
The effectiveness and reliability of the current examination framework has been under severe criticism, and it is imperative to encourage discussions on setting up credible governance and management systems.
The public hearings on the ZIMSEC bill should ensure that the examination system is accountable, transparent and credible through focusing on transparent examination process, stakeholder engagement and most importantly the whistleblower protection.
