O' Level Pass Rate Almost Static
The pass rate in the November 2019 Ordinary Level examinations slightly increased by 0.4 per cent from the previous year, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has revealed.
ZIMSEC board chairman Professor Eddie Mwenje told reporters in Harare on Wednesday that the pass rate increased from 31.2 per cent recorded in 2018 to 31.6 per cent.
The number of candidates who sat for the November 2019 O’ Level examinations was 57 023 more than in 2018, an increase of 23,8 per cent. Said Mwenje:
The total number of school candidates was 206 623. Of this number, 176 866 wrote five or more subjects and 59 879 obtained Grade C or better in five or more subjects, yielding 33.9 per cent pass rate which is higher than that of 2018 which was 32.8 per cent.
The total number of private candidates was 89 841. Of this number, 23 196 wrote five or more subjects and 3 336 obtained a Grade C or better in five or more subjects, which translates into a percentage pass rate of 14.4 per cent. In November 2018, the pass rate was 14.2 per cent.
Meanwhile, Mwenje said ZIMSEC has a zero-tolerance towards exam cheating and those caught on the wrong side of the law will have their results nullified.
Four teachers including the head at Chingele Secondary School who were caught writing exams for their wives and girlfriends were suspended last year by the Public Service Commission for alleged improper association with schoolchildren and former schoolchildren.
