HARARE – Parents with children sitting public examinations this year will be asked to top-up on the exam fees already paid, primary and secondary education minister Cain Mathema announced on Wednesday.
The government froze exam fees at 2015 levels last month after an outcry following a decision by ZIMSEC to charge $190 per subject up from last year’s $15, representing a massive 1,166 percent increase. Fees for A’ Level had been pegged at $351 up from $26, a 1,250 percent hike.
Announcing a conclusion to their consultations, Mathema announced a subsidy scheme which will result in the government paying 53 percent of exam fees already set by ZIMSEC.
Mathema said $150 million had been released to ZIMSEC to meet the shortfall, which could increase depending on the final candidate list.
Mathema said Grace 7 pupils will pay $125 for all subjects, with the government picking up a bill of $139 per pupil representing 53 percent of the total.
The exam fee per subject for O’ Level is unchanged from ZIMSEC’s $190, but the government says it will pay $100 of that amount, while parents pick up the $90 remainder. This means parents who had already paid $15 must now top up with $75 per subject.
For A’ Level, Mathema said the government would be paying its share of $186 per subject while parents settle the other $165, which means a top-up of $139 per subject.
Mathema said pupils who registered the same subject for June and November exams would only benefit for one sitting from the subsidy.
The subsidy is only open to council, government and church schools.
“All candidates from private schools and colleges at Grade 7, O’ and A’ Level will meet the full cost of the examination fees,” Mathema said.
