Gweru, (New Ziana) – Fast-paced preparations for the re-opening of examination classes in the Midlands province are underway, with more than 84 000 students in the region due to sit for the Zimbabwe School Examination Council (Zimsec) end of year examinations set for December.

The school re-opening dates are penciled for 28 September 2020 for all Zimsec exam classes, with examinations expected to start on 1 December, 2020.

Cambridge examination classes re-opened on September 14.

Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Midlands, Senator Larry Mavima said feverish preparations for re-opening of examination classes in Midlands were underway.

He said a total of 84 734 students have registered for the December examinations and a staff complement of 5 706 teachers was in place to administer the preparation and writing of examinations.

The province, Mavima said, is working closely with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to speed up preparations for the re-opening of schools, and procurement of Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), transport, among other key requirements.

“The Ministry is working closely with other Ministries and stakeholders to guarantee the safety of pupils and staff during the examinations period. Standard Operating Procedures have been distributed to all schools,” he said.

Zimsec has, however, extended the registration deadline for the Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations to October 2 for the benefit of the students who failed to beat the March deadline due to Covid-19 induced lockdown restrictions.

Government closed all schools in March as a precautionary measure against the novel Coronavirus. Zimbabwe now has over 7 500 Covid-19 cases and 224 deaths.

Meanwhile, the Midlands province Economic Development Strategy will see the establishment of new schools, particularly in resettlement areas, and upgrading of 15 satellite schools in districts such as Gokwe North, Gokwe South and Mberengwa.
New Ziana