ZIMSEC Nullifies Results Of 5 000 O' Level Candidates For Cheating

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) says it nullified the results of 4 961 candidates who sat for the 2022 Ordinary Level examinations for cheating.

In a statement released on Friday, 03 February, ZIMSEC board chairperson Eddie Mwenje said the figure represents 1.78% of the total candidate entry. He said:

Candidates who had pre-access to question papers at different examination centres were identified during the writing of the examinations and also at the marking of scripts and grade review stages.

The results of such candidates were nullified for the subjects in question in accordance with the ZIMSEC Act section 34.

Candidates, headmasters and members of the public who were caught posting question papers on WhatsApp and those buying them were arrested and appeared in court.

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All other practices that contravened the ZIMSEC Act were brought to the attention of ZIMSEC by respective schools.

As a result of the combined investigation reports from schools, and the identification of culprits at the marking and grade reviews stages, a total of 4 961 candidates had results nullified.

This number is out of 278 760 who registered for the Ordinary Level examination. The number represents 1.78% of the total candidate entry.

The examinations were marred by several irregularities and some education stakeholders had called for the nullification of the examination.

Mwenje said the overall pass rate for the 2022 O’ Level examinations increased by 2.62% to 28.96% compared to 26.34% recorded in 2021. He said:

A total of 278 760 candidates sat for the November 2022 examinations as compared to 249 914 candidates who sat for the same examinations in 2021.

There was an increase in the candidature of 28 846, thus translating to an increase of 11.54%.

In 2022, a total of 183 584 wrote five or more subjects and 53 169 passed five or more subjects with a grade C or better giving an overall pass rate of 28.96% as compared to l63 179 candidates who wrote five or more subjects in 2021, with 42 985 passing five or more subjects with a Grade C or better yielding a pass rate of 26.34%. The statistics show that the 2022 pass rate increased by 2.62% from 2021.