Harare, (New Ziana)- The Zimbabwe government has extended to May 22, the deadline for learners wishing to register for the Zimbabwe school examinations in November this year, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Responding to questions from legislators in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo said the extension was a response to calls from parents and guardians.
“We have received requests of that nature to the effect that parents and guardians are requesting that the deadline for the Zimbabwe School Examinations for November 2026 be extended. After making some consultations, I am pleased to announce that the November 2026 public examinations deadline for registration will be extended from 27th March, 2026 to 22nd May, 2026,” he said.
“We encourage that the centres that had collected registration fees should proceed and deposit the fees with the Zimbabwe School Examinations banking institution so that it does not disrupt the preparations for the examinations for the November 2026 examinations,” he added.
On whether schools had followed new restrictions to cap the number of subjects registered for both Ordinary and Advanced Level, Moyo said complaints had been filed about some schools defying the directive.
“We now see a challenge, children are writing 12 subjects, wasting their time on a lot of subjects. Hence, we came up with a regulation for subjects. At ‘A’ level, they should write only three subjects, with a maximum of four subjects,” he said.
“We had complaints concerning schools, especially this week and the past week, about some delinquent heads who are in charge of schools. The payment of examination fees in November has no bearing on the debt that the student has,” he said.
Moyo singled out a school in Kuwadzana high density suburb in the capital, which has not followed new restrictions.
“We have had reports emanating from a school in Kuwadzana. We have sent our officers to investigate and deal with that delinquent headmaster. So, what I urge the Honorable Member to do is to write the name of the school and give it to me, and tomorrow morning we will be there, because these school heads are abusing the rights of the children by barring them from writing examinations.
A learner from a government school for “O” Level pays $11, which means that the government subsidises $14 since the examination fee is $25 per subject.
“Government puts 55 percent as a form of subsidy. That is what is in place. Subsidies start from Grade 7, “O” Level and ‘A’ Level, but private candidates in private schools or in independent colleges do not receive such subsidies by Government,” said Moyo.
New Ziana
