Call for ZIMSEC to avail public exam funds

Victor Sibanda

VICTORIA FALLS-The president of the National Association of Primary Heads(NAPH) has urged the Zimbabwe Examination Council(ZIMSEC) to consider paying heads of schools administration allowances in the running of all public examinations. 

NAPH president, Cynthia Khumalo, the Head of Chinotimba Primary School in the resort city of Victoria Falls said  this while addressing scores of heads of primary schools at a conference held at Elephant Hills Hotel last week. She said the advent of CALA in the curriculum has made the administration of the public examinations more challenging.

“Administration of the Grade  6 and 7 examination fees  is proving difficult in our schools. In most cases we  are short changed.  ZIMSEC should consider paying for the administration of the examination.  They must budget for it,” she said to the tumultuous applause from heads of  schools and stakeholders. 

Khumalo said the payment of examinations at primary school should be a once off payment as what happens at O and A level centres. 

“Payment of grade 7 examination fees should not be regarded as school fees where parents  pay every term starting at grade 6 level. Administration of funds is a mammoth task and we are usually under-staffed,” said Khumalo.

ZIMSEC had been lobbied by heads of schools and teachers’ unions to consider paying  a fee for public examinations invigilators and administrators but to no avail.

Educationists argue that the national examination board pays markers and item writers but disregard invigilators and heads of schools.