O And A Level Examination New System To Be Set Up

New regulations are set to be placed for O And A Level Examinations for 2018 in line with the updated education curriculum.

Ordinary and Advanced Level pupils will be graded on the basis of combined marks for continuous assessment and final examinations. The new system will be placed for grade seven pupils from 2021.

According to the new rules, pupils who would have failed examinations will be required to supplement within two years, after which one would be forced to go back to class if failing persists. The new education framework for O and A-Level says learners’ grades will be based on 40 percent theoretical examinations, 30 percent practical examinations and 30 percent continuous assessment.

Grade Seven examinations, final grades will be determined by 50 percent continuous assessment and 50 percent examinations.

According to primary and secondary sducation secretary Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council was finalizing modalities for implementing the policy.

“ZIMSEC is finalising the assessment framework that will be used by teachers who are currently being trained. ZIMSEC is also saying they will keep assessment marks for two years and give candidates a grace period; after that one has to start afresh.”

ZIMSEC is also trying to accommodate students who have been supplementing on the old system.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education updated the curriculum this year, with emphasis on strengthening Mathematics, Science, Technology, Vocational Studies, Humanities and Heritage Studies. The model which is meant to include the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Education and Training of 1999 is aimed to improve pass rates.