By Own Correspondent
Government has bowed to pressure from guardians and unions and moved to cancel the recently announced Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) fees.
This comes after a number of organisations in the country including Justice for Children, Higher Life Foundation, Katswe Sisterhood, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe had engaged in an ‘Every child in school’ campaign with the aim to make government reverse the fees.
At Ordinary level examination fees were increased from $15 per subject to $190 and for Advanced level from $26 to $351.
While foreign candidates now had to pay $443 and candidates had to pay $228 for late entry while centres pay $810.
Speaking at a press conference in Harare, Wednesday, Primary and Secondary Education minister, Cain Mathema said guardians should pay the old fees that were put in place in 2015.
“Following the publication of the 2020 public examination fees, it has been found necessary to carry out further consultations. While the examination fees that were published are based on the actual cost of each examination, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform parents and guardians that following further representations, the recently released circular on the 2020 examination fees has been cancelled with immediate effect. New fees will be announced after further consultations have been made with all the relevant stakeholders,” he said.
Mathema added that the payment deadlines were not changing.
The closing dates for exam fees for June is February 28 and for November it’s March 27 while late entries will close on May 15.
“Parents and guardians are therefore advised to continue paying the old fees approved in 2015. Please be advised that the deadlines for examination fees payment remain the same.