Education Minister Says 2012 Form 4 Results Disappointing

WASHINGTON DC —  Education Minister David Coltart says this year’s Ordinary Level results, released by the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Monday, are not impressive as the pass rate dropped by at least 1.1 percent compared to last year.

Coltart said information provided by ZIMSEC indicates that about 31,767 pupils out of 172,698, who sat for the November examinations, passed five or more subjects.

He attributed the low pass rates in Shona – 18 percent – and other subjects such as Mathematics and English, to the loss of trained teachers between 2004 and 2008 when the Zimbabwe economy recorded hyperinflationary figures due to political conflicts and related issues in the country.

Interveiw With David Coltart

Raymond Majongwe, general secretary of the Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, said the low Shona pass rate is shocking as students have over the years scored high marks in this subject.

Interview With Raymond Majongwe

Sifiso Ndlovu, chief executive of the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association, said a lot needs to be done to improve the low pass rate.

Interview With Sifiso Ndlovu

About 268,854 pupils registered for Ordinary Level exams last year compared to 241,512 in 2011. The pass rate was 19.5 percent last year. Best passes were this year recorded in Ndebele, Business Studies and Biology. The female pass rate was lower than that of male students.