Zimbabwe has ordered all school learners to sit for locally administered ZIMSEC examinations under a new Cabinet‑approved education policy, with full implementation set for 2027.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo said the reform aligns the system with constitutional requirements and the Heritage‑Based Curriculum.
The directive will apply to Grade Seven, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level learners.
“From 2027, all schools in this country will sit for examinations managed by ZIMSEC [Zimbabwe School Examinations Council],” Moyo said.
Schools that wish to continue offering Cambridge examinations will be required to apply for permission and demonstrate how they will meet both ZIMSEC and Cambridge curriculum standards.
The decision marks a major shift in Zimbabwe’s long‑standing dual examination system, in which government schools and most public institutions use ZIMSEC, while many private and trust schools offer Cambridge International assessments.
The coexistence of the two systems has often raised questions about comparability, affordability and equity, with Cambridge generally viewed as more expensive and accessible mainly to higher‑income families.
The new policy has drawn mixed reactions. Some parents expressed concern about the transition and the credibility of ZIMSEC, citing past reports of examination irregularities.
Others questioned how learners who began the Cambridge pathway at primary level would adapt to the change.
JN/APA