Harare, (New Ziana) – The government on Wednesday suspended mid-year ‘O’ and ‘A’ level examinations this year due to Covid-19 disruptions to learning, a cabinet minister has said.

Ordinarily, both ordinary and advanced level students have the option to write some or all of their final examinations in June as well as in November.

But Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had made representations for the suspension of the mid-year examinations this year, which Cabinet approved.

“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 in early December 2020 and ended in early February 2021, instead of the usual period stretching from October to November of each year,” Minister Mutsvangwa told a post-Cabinet briefing.

“The delay in writing and the marking of the previous examinations has affected the preparation and the setting of the next examination hence the decision to temporarily suspend the June 2021 examinations.”

The suspension, she said, would allow the examinations council to dedicate its focus on the end of year examinations so that they are written on time.

Zimbabwe’s school calendar was disrupted by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year with students having spent nearly a year at home as schools were closed.

The disease infected nearly 37 000 people, and killed 1 531 in the country.

Schools opened for the first time this year late March, instead of January as is normally the case.
New Ziana