Government Enforces ZIMSEC-Only Exams, Sets 2027 Transition for Cambridge Learners

By Nelson Geje

The Government has moved to end uncertainty surrounding the future of the Cambridge curriculum, confirming that the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council will become the sole examinations authority for all national qualifications from 2027.

Addressing mounting concerns from parents, schools, and learners, Taungana Ndoro, Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, said a structured and phased transition framework has been put in place to protect affected candidates.

Ndoro clarified that learners currently in Form Three and Lower Six under the Cambridge route will not be abruptly disrupted. “The 2027 timeline is deliberate and fair. These learners will sit ZIMSEC O Level and A Level examinations respectively when they reach their final examination year,” he said.

The directive, announced by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Torerayi Moyo, makes compliance mandatory across all schools, effectively ending dual examination pathways for national certification.

“After 2027, compliance will not be optional. All schools will register candidates solely through ZIMSEC for the national examinations that confer the national qualification,” Ndoro emphasized.

Authorities say the reform is rooted in law, citing provisions of the Education Act (Chapter 25:04), which mandates a unified national curriculum and examination system. Ndoro stressed that the shift is not merely policy-driven but a legal requirement designed to ensure integrity and uniformity in assessment.

While Cambridge examinations will not be entirely scrapped, they will be downgraded to a secondary option. Schools wishing to continue offering them must seek formal approval and demonstrate the capacity to run both systems without disadvantaging learners.

“Any school that wishes to offer Cambridge examinations alongside ZIMSEC must submit a compelling justification,” Ndoro said.

Government argues the move is a corrective measure aimed at eliminating disparities in the education system. Officials say the dual system has long entrenched a socio-economic divide, with international qualifications often perceived as superior.

“This reform dismantles a long-standing, unjust two-tier system that has falsely divided our children,” Ndoro said, adding that ZIMSEC qualifications are already widely recognised by universities and employers.

The transition is aligned with Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum and Vision 2030, with authorities urging stakeholders to support implementation efforts ahead of the 2027 deadline.