Increased Security Measures Implemented for Zimsec Exams

Zimbabwe’s public examination question papers are now being securely transported to exam centres under the watchful protection of security escorts. These new measures have been put in place by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) in order to prevent any potential leakages.

This year’s Ordinary and Advanced Level exams began on October 16th, and Zimsec has recently introduced stricter regulations to address the issue of exam paper leaks. Individuals convicted of leaking exam papers can now face up to nine years in prison, while learners found guilty of the same offence will have their results nullified.

So far, eight individuals have been arrested for fraudulently selling fake exam papers through social media platforms. Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Zimsec’s public relations manager, Ms Nicky Dhlamini-Moyo, explained that the council has implemented various security measures. These include the daily distribution of exam question papers, the supply of answer sheets and chemicals to exam centres, and the deployment of security teams across the country to conduct checks and monitor the exams as they progress.

While there has been a slight decrease in the number of candidates registered for this year’s exams compared to last year, with around 287,167 registered Ordinary Level candidates and 35,061 registered Advanced Level candidates, Zimsec cannot definitively determine the exact reasons behind this decrease as schools handle the registration process.

Mr. Arthur Maphosa, President of the National Association of School Heads, appreciated Zimsec’s efforts in implementing measures to prevent leaks. He stated that the measures introduced by Zimsec have been effective, especially considering the issues with leakages that occurred last year. However, Mr. Maphosa expressed surprise at the decrease in the number of registered learners for this year’s exams. He expected an increase, considering that many learners had been funded by the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).

Overall, it is crucial to maintain the integrity of the examination process, and these heightened security measures aim to ensure a fair and transparent environment for all candidates.