By Chiedza Muswe

Government announced that it will be subsidising examination fees for all candidates by contributing 53% while parents and guardians will only fork out 47% of the total fees.  This subsidy will apply only to public school candidates while those in private schools will have to pay the examination fees in full.

This was revealed by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Cain Mathema in a Press Statement yesterday as he presented the 2020 Public Examination Fee Schedule.

“I would now like to advise all parents and guardians of candidates in Grade 7, “O” and “A” Levels that, in 2020, Government will be contributing 53% of the examination fees for candidates in public schools, while parents and guardians will take up 47%. All candidates from private schools and colleges at Grade 7, “O” and “A” Levels will meet the full cost of the examination fees,” he said.

Government pegged the Grade 7 exam fees at ZW$264, where Government has committed to pay ZW$139 and candidates at Public School will pay ZW$125. Total “O” level exam fees is ZW$190, Government is paying ZW$100, and candidates will pay ZW$90. “A” level exam fee totals ZW$351, where Government is paying ZW$186 and the candidate ZW$165.

The Minister further highlighted that candidates at private schools and colleges, including candidates who will be re-sitting examinations will be expected to pay the full examination fees. He said candidates currently at public schools, who get Government support for a subject for the June examination, will pay the full fees for the same subject for the November examination.

Minister Mathema said Government will be releasing funds to ZIMSEC to get preparations for the exams started.

“Government is releasing ZW$150 million to ZIMSEC with immediate effect to get the preparations for the 2020 June and November examinations going and will avail the balance to ZIMSEC once the total candidature from the public schools for the June and November examinations is ascertained,” he said

The new deadlines for the payment of examination fees are 30 March 2020 for June examinations and 9 April 2020 for November examinations.

Government has subsidized citizens in other areas such as the roller meal price, which was introduced in order to protect the vulnerable groups.  Recently Government re-introduced grants for students in Tertiary State Institutions, to boost access to higher and tertiary education. This program will go a long way in the country retaining its workforce. 

Additionally, the Government introduced ZUPCO buses as a way of providing transport safety nets while also modernising the local transport system.