Marange High School (MHS), run by the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Manicaland Province, recorded a notable improvement in the latest Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) 2024 Advanced Level exams.
According to <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/marange-umc-high-school-among-manicalands-zimsec-advanced-level-results-fast-movers/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>, out of 85 students who sat for their ‘A’ Levels, the school’s overall pass rate rose to 98.82% from the previous year’s rate of around 91%.
This increase is remarkable considering MHS does not strictly recruit only competent learners, unlike other schools.
16 students achieved results ranging from 14 to 20 ‘A’ Level points. One student earned 20 points in Mathematics, Physics, Computers, and Chemistry, while four others scored between 16 and 19 points.
Marange High School has also championed the girl child’s right to education, enrolling 56 female students and 29 males.
Official records indicate that most districts in Manicaland Province achieved higher than the national pass rate of 94.58%, with Buhera at 97.8%, Makoni at 97.3%, Mutare at 96.54%, Nyanga at 97.16%, Chimanimani at 98.23%, Mutasa District 98.7%, and Chipinge District, the lowest in the province, at 93.5%.
Approximately half of Zimbabwe’s top 10 performing schools have been from Manicaland Province over the years.
According to ZIMSEC, 31,443 of the 33,246 candidates nationally achieved Grade E or better in two or more subjects, representing a pass rate of 94.58%, compared to 94.60% in 2023.

Pindula News

Marange High School in Zimbabwe did very well on their exams. 85 students took the test, and almost all of them passed. Some students got really high scores, especially in math and science. The school is also great at making sure both boys and girls get a good education. Other schools in the area also did well. Overall, many students in Zimbabwe passed their exams, showing improvement from the previous year. The school can be proud for their great work!

Marange High School Records Major Improvement In ZIMSEC A-Level Results

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) board says there is a need for urgent interventions to improve the Ordinary Level pass rate, which remains below the 50 per cent benchmark.
ZIMSEC board chairperson, Professor Paul Mapfumo, announced the release of the 2024 Ordinary Level examination results on Friday, January 17, revealing a national pass rate of 33.19 per cent.
This marks an improvement from last year’s pass rate of 29.41 per cent, with progress noted across most categories.
In a press briefing in Harare yesterday, Mapfumo stressed that the current pass rate necessitates immediate action at all levels of the education system. He said:
<blockquote>
This year’s results show a marginal improvement in performance across most categories.
However, we must confront the reality that two-thirds of candidates are still failing to meet the benchmark of passing five or more subjects. This calls for urgent interventions at all levels of the education system.
</blockquote>
A record 291,341 candidates sat for the 2024 exams, marking a 7.85 per cent increase compared to 2023.
Among these, 199,258 candidates wrote five or more subjects, but only 66,130 achieved five or more passes at Grade C or better.
The results revealed notable improvements: school candidates posted a pass rate of 33.70 per cent, up from 30.19 per cent in 2023.
Private candidates also saw a rise in their pass rate, increasing from 21.85 per cent to 29.60 per cent.
In terms of gender performance, female candidates outperformed their male counterparts, achieving pass rates of 33.54 per cent and 32.65 per cent, respectively.
Candidates with special needs demonstrated remarkable progress, achieving a pass rate of 36.36 per cent, up from 25.79 per cent in 2023. Said Mapfumo:
<blockquote>
While we celebrate the incremental progress, these results are a stark reminder of the disparities in access to quality education, particularly in rural areas. We need to ensure that every child is given an equal opportunity to succeed.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The ZIMSEC board in Zimbabwe wants to make the pass rate for Ordinary Level exams better because it is below 50%. The results for 2024 showed a national pass rate of 33.19%, which is better than last year. More students took the exams this year. Girls did better than boys, and students with special needs also improved. ZIMSEC says everyone should have a fair chance to do well in school. They want to make changes to help more kids pass their exams.

ZIMSEC Calls For Reforms As Ordinary Level Pass Rate Remains Below 50%

At least 30 schools in Manicaland Province recorded a zero per cent pass rate in the 2023 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) O-Level examinations.
Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Edward Shumba, told <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/30-schools-record-zero-percent-passrate/">The Manica Post</a> that although the provincial pass rate will be released in a fortnight when all the schools would have concluded their analyses, several schools in rural areas recorded no passes.
Shumba said in Makoni, about 13 schools — Chigora, Chitungwiza, Chiwome, Gowàkowa, Gwangwadza, Gwidza, Kadzunge, Mahere, Nyadzonya, Nyamazira, Nyamuronda, Tafadzwa and Tsindi Secondary School had zero per cent pass rate.
In Mutasa District, Ngarure, Marara and Mt Jenya Secondary recorded no passes.
Five schools in Mutare District — Gwese, Zvavanhu, Gonon’ono, Bemhiwa and Mt Tsatse Secondary Schools had no single candidate who passed at O-Level.
In Buhera, three schools, Changamire Secondary, a satellite of Betera High; Chimbudzi Secondary, a satellite of Chiurwi High and Ndongwe, a satellite of Madzivire High recorded a zero per cent pass rate.
Chimanimani District had two schools — Gudyanga and Mukombiwani with zero per cent.
In Chipinge District, two schools — Muumbe and Mahenye Secondary Schools had no passes.
He said the bottom five performing schools in Nyanga District include Samatinha and Bende Secondary Schools which had zero percent pass rate.
The other schools were Munga River Adventist Secondary (4.8 per cent), Fombe Secondary (6.3 per cent) and Ruwangwe Secondary (6.38 per cent).
Speaking to The Manica Post, Zimbabwe Rural Teachers Union chairman, Martin Chaburumunda said several factors contribute to learners struggling in the school system.
He identified inadequate resources and funding for schools, large class sizes, lack of individualised attention for learners, outdated teaching methods, limited access to support services for learners with special needs, and socio-economic disparities as among the factors negatively impacting learners’ performances.
Chaburumunda added that issues such as bullying, mental health challenges, and lack of engagement with the curriculum can also affect learners’ performances.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

30 Schools Record Zero Percent Pass Rate At O-Level In Manicaland

The Government plans to set up information technology servers in rural schools to enable them to access textbooks virtually amid concerns that the shortage of reading material, is a contributory factor to a low pass rate.
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) last week released Ordinary Level results showing that only 29 per cent of candidates who sat for the November 2023 examinations acquired five Ordinary Level passes with a Grade C or better.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/new-textbook-strategy-for-rural-schools/">The Herald</a>, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo said the Government is concerned with the low pass rate, especially in rural schools. He said:
<blockquote>
Learners have no access to the internet and that has contributed to the low pass rate. We are, however, aiming to improve that.
We have contacted some development partners who are coming on board to ensure that we are going to provide online learning in the rural areas including those remote areas without internet connectivity.
We will provide a server so that every child within a radius of 200 metres has access to notes and e-books from the server.
</blockquote>
Moyo said the 29 per cent recorded last year is not good enough, adding the Ministry expect 50 per cent of the candidates to pass.
He also said the Government in partnership with Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is set to avail US$1.2 million to support the registration of 250 schools that are almost complete in construction. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>
We are going to disburse US$5 000 this term to those schools that are at least 80 percent complete.
If a satellite school is close to registration, we are going to give it financial support from GPE.
We are targeting 250 schools by the end of the first term to have received, and if we manage to register 250 schools we are going to unlock more funds.
It means the following year we will have 500 schools that are going to benefit.
</blockquote>
Moyo called upon individuals to construct schools and privatise them, saying the country has a deficit of 2 800 learning institutions.
He warned teachers against teaching extra school lessons for money, saying those caught doing so will face disciplinary action.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Plans To Roll Out E-books For Rural Schools

The 2023 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Grade Seven results were released on Friday, 01 December, with the pass rate increasing to 45.57%, up from 40.09% recorded in 2022, reported <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/?p=17732#:~:text=THE%202023%20Zimbabwe%20School%20Examinations,to%2045.57%20percent%20this%20year.">ZBC News</a>.
The results were announced at the ZIMSEC headquarters in Harare by the examination body’s Board Chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje.
Mwenje attributed the increase in pass rate to the return to the normal school calendar after COVID-19 disruptions among other factors. He said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Board and Management would like to advise the nation of the release of the 2023 ZIMSEC Grade Seven Examination results.
A total of 372 603 candidates sat for one to six subjects during the 2023 Grade seven examinations as compared to 343 169 candidates who sat for the same examination in 2022 showing a 7.89% increase in candidature.
The 2023 Grade 7 Examination session recorded a national pass rate of 45.57%. This is an increase of 5.48% in candidates’ performance from last year’s pass rate of 40. 09%.
The increase in pass rate could be attributed to the return to the normal school calendar after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the various interventions by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in terms of teaching and learning.
</blockquote>
The results can be accessed through the ZIMSEC Online Results Portal. ZIMSEC also advised that school heads will start collecting the results from their respective ZIMSEC Regional Offices from Monday, 04 December.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZIMSEC Grade Seven Results Out, Pass Rate Increases

Villagers in Matabeleland South Province have accused the Government of neglecting schools in the province, which has resulted in many posting a zero pass.
Parents who spoke to the <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/news/article/200010502/govt-neglecting-mat-south-schools">Southern Eye </a>said the majority of rural schools suffer from a lack of experienced teachers, learning materials such as textbooks, and a shortage of classroom blocks forcing children to learn under trees.
Some schools have only three teachers taking up Early Childhood Development (ECD) classes up to Grade 7.
Peter Sithole, a parent with a child enrolled at Zidere Primary School in Gwanda, said:
<blockquote>
The zero percent pass rate is a result of a shortage of teachers. There are only three teachers from ECD level to Grade Seven including the acting deputy head at the school.
</blockquote>
Matobo Ward 2 councillor Fadrick Siwela said Tudi 2 Primary School in the area registered 0% pass in Grade Seven in 2022. He said:
<blockquote>
The other problem is that these schools are always staffed with temporary teachers.
For example, the head of Tudi primary is transferring next term. Experienced teachers are not staying long.
</blockquote>
At Mhlonhlweni Primary School, learners are holding lessons under a tent after a classroom block had its roof destroyed by a storm in 2019.
School Development Committee representative Isaac Ncube said:
<blockquote>
Our school infrastructure is not in good shape. There are three teachers at the school with a population of 102 pupils up to Grade Seven.
</blockquote>
Primary and Secondary Education Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said:
<blockquote>
This issue where schools are recording a zero percent pass rate is also happening in Mashonaland regions but the government has done a lot to correct the situation.
We have introduced online learning, distance learning foundation literacy numeracy and even the introduction of technical high schools.
All these approaches will bear fruits. We will see our pass rate shooting up.
</blockquote>
Commentators have attributed the zero percent pass rates in Zimbabwean schools to a lack of resources such as textbooks, poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, and poverty.
Poverty can also lead to health issues, malnutrition, and other factors that can impact a student’s ability to learn and perform well academically.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Government Neglecting Matabeleland South Schools - Parents

The pass rate for Ordinary Level Mathematics has been going down over the past four years except in 2021 when it went up slightly.
Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC) spokesperson Nicholette Dhlamini told the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/form-four-maths-not-adding-up/">Chronicle</a> that from 2019 to 2022, the Maths pass rate has been below 20 percent.
On 03 February 2023, ZIMSEC released the November 2022 results showing that only 28 percent of candidates obtained five Ordinary Level passes or better in all the subjects. Said Dhlamini:
<blockquote>
For the past four years, the pass rate for mathematics, excluding that for private candidates, has remained at slightly below 20 percent.
In 2019; 19,23 percent of public candidates passed O-level Mathematics and the figure went down to 18,21 in 2020 and slightly up to 18,71 percent in 2021. In 2022; 18,03 candidates passed Mathematics.
</blockquote>
Failing to pass Mathematics has reduced the chances of many young people enrolling at tertiary institutions.
The founder of Girls in STEM Trust Victoria Nxumalo said people should first understand the application of Mathematics to everyday life rather than making it a theoretical model that has no connection to what humans do. She said:
<blockquote>
People use Maths every day, in their homes, consciously or unconsciously. It’s practical, particularly in the early grades.
These grades are crucial in that they are the foundation of Maths. If the foundation is not laid out properly, the learner will struggle with the subsequent build-up to higher levels of Maths.
Prior knowledge is crucial and teachers have neglected that learners come with this knowledge, through the traditional games that they play at home.
Concepts such as the value of digits can be learned from Ara Wuru (the learner counts the number of boxes); Gwini is the basis of sets, which consequently leads to multiplication.
Sharing, division, and fractions are exemplified in the use of snotty apples (uxakuxaku).
Time, money, and change are done on a daily basis at home where the learner transacts in these concepts.
Patterns that kids draw at home are the basics of the principles of coding.
</blockquote>
Joel Munetsi who has been a Mathematics teacher ever since he was in Form Four in 2004 said some people have a bad attitude towards the subject. He said:
<blockquote>
There are myths that need to be dealt with before anyone attempts Mathematics because this subject is very crucial in helping us face challenges in life, I mean our lives are closely linked to Mathematics.
I often advise my clients to take it easy as some panic to the extent of failing to answer all questions within the allocated time.
I have also taught Mathematics at more than 10 schools as a teacher and have noted that it’s all about attitude. Once that changes anyone can easily pass Mathematics at whatever level.
I am currently privately tutoring Mathematics with international students and the rule remains, with constant practice, Mathematics is so basic and can be easily applicable to our everyday life.
</blockquote>

O' Level Mathematics Pass Rate Falls... Educators Say A Change Of Attitude Is Necessary

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) says there is nothing wrong with Advanced Level candidates attaining high grades in public examinations.
This comes after a former Ruya Adventist Secondary School student Tadiwanashe Mavetera scored 10As in the November 2022 ZIMSEC A’ Level examination while at Pamushana High School in Bikita there was a high yield of As with 103 students scoring more than 15 points each.
Pamushana High School’s best student, Abraham Ndlovu scored 30 points and he got straight As in Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Pure Mathematics and Statistics.
ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicky Dlamini said people should understand that access to learning resources has increased, hence high passes attained at A’ Level. She said:
<blockquote>
Our mandate is to award candidates according to their performances. We do not change grades because candidates are performing well.
One thing that we should realise is that the candidates that are being compared now have better access to learning resources and extra lessons that they are exposed to.
Therefore, it will be obvious that those that have access to these resources will perform much better.
It does not affect the credibility of examinations at all because we assess the curriculum being taught to these candidates.
The public should investigate how were the students being taught. What was their learning system like?
How did that school produce those results? ZIMSEC comes after teaching, we do not come before teaching.
If these candidates are doing well, people should then look at the teaching to say there is a good teacher behind the candidate.
We benchmark regionally and internationally for our assessment standards.
We do not judge or look at individual candidates, we look at assessment standards, and that is our mandate.
</blockquote>
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said the improved grades were normal. | <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/high-passes-do-not-affect-exam-credibility-zimsec/">The Sunday News</a>

ZIMSEC Says High Passes Do Not Affect Exam Credibility

More than nine primary schools in Kwekwe District recorded a zero percent pass rate at the 2022 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) examinations.
Most of the schools are in Kwekwe’s resettlement areas where infrastructural developments are lagging behind.
The statistics were shared by Zibagwe Rural District Councillor Tichaona Chitate and were derived from the district’s 137 schools. Said Chitate:
<blockquote>
Schools in resettlement areas are disadvantaged, they do not have resources but are expected to write the same national examinations as schools that are fully equipped. That is a great disadvantage for the learners.
</blockquote>
Schools that registered 0% pass rates are Tavanevhu, where 36 set for examinations, Bonwei (17), Ndlamatuli (15), Sunganayi (14), Comyn (13), Melrose (11), Edzai Mpumelelo (10) and Maywood (four) and Riverlea were only one candidate wrote.
Seven schools from the district’s urban area recorded a 100% pass rate.
Some of the schools that recorded over 80% pass rates include Maryward, Dambudzo, Russel, Loreto, Chiedza, St. Martins A and George Hill.
Meanwhile, the country registered a 40.09% pass rate which was a decline from the 41.13% registered last year. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/nine-schools-in-kwekwe-register-zero-percent-pass-rates-at-zimsec-exams/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Nine Schools In Kwekwe Register 0% Pass Rate

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) is yet to establish why the Grade Seven pass rate in 2022 was lower than that recorded in 2021 considering that there were far fewer disruptions.
In 2020 and 2021, learning was disrupted by several COVID-19-induced lockdowns while in 2022, learning activities were back to normal apart from some delays during the first term.
ZIMSEC on Wednesday released the Grade 7 results, with a 40. 09 percent pass rate, marginally below the 41.13 per cent pas rate of last year.
Girls, with a 43.66 percent pass rate, did a lot better than boys who had a 3622 per cent pass rate.
Speaking in Harare on Wednesday after the announcement of the 2022 Grade Seven public examination results, ZIMSEC board chair Professor Eddie Mwenje said:
<blockquote>
The reasons are sometimes very difficult to establish until you do a deep analysis of the results which we do normally just to advise the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on certain aspects.
Given that this year students received much more time for learning than in the previous year, they ought to have done better.
</blockquote>
ZIMSEC director Lazarus Nembaware said continuous assessment learning activity (CALA) could be one of the factors. He said:
<blockquote>
It could be other reasons, which we will look into but as of now, we also think that candidates are still settling into the CALA component.
This is the second year in which CALA has been part and parcel of the examination system so it could be that and we will look into those areas more critically after the release of these results.
</blockquote>
ZIMSEC said it recorded a higher number of candidates writing the exam than did so last year. It said:
<blockquote>
A total of 343 169 candidates sat for the 2022 Grade Seven examinations as compared to 325 573 candidates who sat for the same examinations in 2021, showing a 5.4 percent increase in candidature, that is an additional 17 596 candidates.
</blockquote>
ZIMSEC also advised that the collection of results from regional offices will start this Thursday while the online viewing platform was activated on Wednesday. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/girls-outperform-boys-in-grade-7/">The Herald</a>

Grade 7 Pass Rate Falls... Girls Outperform Boys

Thirty-three (33) schools in Manicaland Province recorded a zero per cent pass rate during the 2021 Ordinary Level ZIMSEC examination.
This was actually an improvement as forty-five (45) secondary schools in the province recorded a zero per cent pass rate in 2020.
Manicaland Deputy Provincial Education Director (Secondary Schools), Charles Muganhu said most of the schools with a zero per cent pass rate are satellite schools. He said:
<blockquote>
It is a complicated matter – we have 33 secondary schools with a zero per cent pass rate, and as a result, a comprehensive approach is needed to evaluate the situation and intervene so as to eradicate the zero per cent pass-rate cancer.
Most of the affected schools are satellite schools. They are still upcoming and are confronted with serious infrastructural and operational challenges.
Some of them are not yet registered and do not have substantive administrative structures which means that they are manned by ordinary teachers.
This is unacceptable because parents are not getting the expected returns on their investments after a four-year cycle.
</blockquote>
Muganhu said the onset of COVID-19 contributed to pupils’ poor performance as they lagged behind due to lost learning time during the national lockdowns. Said Muganhu:
<blockquote>
We are visiting each of these schools to see how best we can help them and ultimately eradicate the zero per cent pass rate. We cannot prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution if we are to increase our pass rate.
In fact, our vision as a ministry is zero tolerance for zero per cent pass rates. It means that as a ministry we must provide quality, relevant and wholesome education which makes sure that all our learners pass, and there is no school that should record a zero per cent pass rate.
After the tour, we will then implement befitting strategies to eradicate the zero per cent pass rate.
We expect our teachers to put extra tutorial support, learners to pull up their socks and commit to studying, while parents play their part at home to ensure that every child excels.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/33-schools-record-0-percent-pass-rate/">The Manica Post</a></h4>

33 Schools In Manicaland Record Zero Per Cent Pass Rate

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says it is going to eradicate the zero per cent pass rate in school through the provision of quality, relevant and wholesome education to learners.
In the 2021 Grade Seven public examinations, a total of 51 primary schools in Matabeleland North recorded a zero per cent pass rate.
The number was a slight improvement from 2020 when a total of 85 schools in the province recorded a zero per cent pass rate.
Primary and Secondary Education Ministry director of communication and advocacy Taungana Ndoro said ending the zero pass rate will be achieved gradually. Ndoro said:
<blockquote>
We… need to increase our pass rate, in fact, our vision as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is that we are going to have a zero-tolerance to zero per cent pass rate in any school.
It means that now we can go towards that trajectory that as a ministry we provide quality, relevant and wholesome education which makes sure that all our learners pass and there is no school whatsoever that records zero pass rates.
It’s all hands on deck from the headquarters to provincial offices, district offices including our school heads to say we need to close this gap.
</blockquote>
Ndoro also said the ministry has adapted to the new normal and is now in a better position to deal with the novel coronavirus in schools. He said:
<blockquote>
We have now mastered how to live with COVID-19 because we have been implementing standard operating procedures, we are now going back to a five-day week and we are going to catch up on all lost time.
It is very good for the education fraternity because we need to catch up on all lost education.
Those who have not been in school are encouraged to come back to school so that we are able to contribute to the socio-economic development of our nation.
COVID-19 had actually taken us back but it made us learn a few things and now we have learnt that we can learn online and digital learning. We now conduct face to face learning and WhatsApp learning.
So, we have a number of skills that we have gained from the experiences with COVID-19.
Going forward we really would like all our learners to prepare and be able to concentrate fully so that they are able to write their examinations come the end of the year.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/government-declares-war-on-zero-pass-rate/">Chronicle</a></h4>

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