Cabinet Approves Bill to Tackle Exam Leaks, Malp...

Cabinet Approves Bill to Tackle Exam Leaks, Malpractice

Oscar J Jeke – Zim Now Reporter

The Cabinet has approved the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Amendment Bill, 2024, paving the way for comprehensive reforms aimed at curbing exam malpractice and restoring public confidence in the national assessment system.

The move follows a surge in reported cases of paper leakages, fraudulent registration, and misconduct by some examination centres.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere announced the development during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet briefing, stating that the amendments are designed to tighten security and enhance operational efficiency within ZIMSEC.

“The Zimbabwe School Examinations Amendment Bill, 2024, has among its key objectives the elimination of leakages across all examination centres,” Muswere said.

The Bill seeks to restructure the mandate of the ZIMSEC Board, allowing it to deregister non-compliant centres and enforce stricter controls. It will also introduce stiffer penalties for individuals or institutions found guilty of examination fraud.

“The decision to amend the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Act [Chapter 25:18] is to address challenges obtaining in the education sector, in particular examination leakages, registration anomalies and fraudulent practices at some examination centres country-wide,” the minister added.

The latest reforms signal government’s intent to safeguard the integrity of the country’s education system and ensure that qualifications awarded to learners reflect genuine merit.