Government makes ZIMSEC compulsory, Cambridge learners to switch in 2027

The Zimbabwean government has directed that all learners, including those currently following the Cambridge curriculum, will sit national examinations under the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council by 2027, in a major policy shift aimed at standardising the country’s education system. The directive, clarified on May 5, 2026, affects current Form 3 and Lower 6 learners on the Cambridge pathway, who will now transition to ZIMSEC examinations at their final stage.

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said the timeline was designed to avoid disrupting learners already progressing through the system.

“For learners currently in Form Three and Lower Six who are on the Cambridge route, 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,” Ndoro said.

This means current Form 3 pupils will write ZIMSEC O Levels in 2027, while Lower 6 learners will sit ZIMSEC A Levels, ensuring a structured transition rather than an abrupt mid-course change.

Education analyst Stephen Chikozho said the phased approach is critical.

“Shifting examination systems midstream can disadvantage learners. A planned transition helps preserve academic continuity,” he said.

Authorities made it clear that after 2027, all schools will be required to register candidates exclusively through ZIMSEC for national qualifications. Ndoro said the directive, issued by Education Minister Torerayi Moyo, is legally binding.

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

He added that the move is grounded in the Education Act, which mandates a unified national curriculum.

“This is not a policy choice; it is a constitutional and legal imperative. Section 63 mandates a single national curriculum, which can only be assessed with integrity by a single national examinations board,” Ndoro explained.

While ZIMSEC will become the primary examination authority, the government says Cambridge examinations will still be permitted under tightly controlled conditions. Schools wishing to offer both ZIMSEC and Cambridge Assessment International Education must submit formal applications demonstrating how learners will manage both syllabi without compromising performance.

“Any school that wishes to offer Cambridge alongside ZIMSEC must justify how learners will cope with both systems,” Ndoro said.

Officials say the policy aims to eliminate disparities between learners following local and international curricula.

“This reform dismantles a long-standing, unjust two-tier system that has falsely divided our children along socio-economic lines,” Ndoro said.

Education expert Ranga Mberi noted that perceptions around qualifications have long influenced parental choices.

“There has been a belief that international exams are superior, but local qualifications are widely recognised and can be strengthened through consistent policy support,” he said.

Government officials emphasised that ZIMSEC qualifications are recognised by universities and employers both locally and regionally. The reform also aligns with Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum and broader national development agenda under Vision 2030. Parents and school administrators have been urged to prepare for the transition ahead of the 2027 deadline, as authorities move to fully integrate all learners into a single, standardised examination system.

ZIMSEC compulsory Zimbabwe