Mako Jerera
Government has suspended the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) June 2021 Ordinary and Advanced level examinations as the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively the timing and cycle of public examinations.
The local school calendar has been shifted several times since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in August 2019.
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet considered and approved a request for the suspension of the ZIMSEC June 2021 Ordinary and Advanced Level Examination Session, which was presented by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Ambassador Cain Mathema .
Cabinet was advised that the COVID-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 had negatively impacted 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
Senator Mutsvangwa said the number of Covid-19 positive cases continues to decline in response to national efforts to contain infection from the virus.
“Cabinet was informed that as of 6 April 2021, Zimbabwe’s cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 36 966, with 34 781 recoveries and 1 531 deaths. The recovery rate is 94%, with 35 240 of the COVID-19 cases attributable to local transmission. There are 654 active cases.
Minister Monica Mutsvangwa went on to stress that the suspension of the June 2021 examination session will allow for timely focus on the November examination preparations and aid an effective focus of resources. Logistics will be put in place to ensure that the candidates who may have wanted to sit for their examinations in June 2021 do so together with other students in November 2021.
Meanwhile, Cabinet has informed the nation that henceforth, casinos will be allowed to re-open with strict observance of COVID-19 guidelines. Those found disregarding the guidelines will have their licences revoked. Casinos have been closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
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