Whirlwind Blows Away Grade 7 Exam Script

A whirlwind blew a Grade 7 candidate’s Mathematics answer sheet out of a classroom window at Rujeko Primary School.

By Staff Reporter

MASVINGO- Teachers and learners at Rujeko Primary School were forced to scramble for cover after a whirlwind swept through an examination classroom while Grade 7 pupils were writing their ZIMSEC Mathematics multiple-choice paper on Tuesday.

The incident occurred shortly after the pupils had completed the examination, as teachers were moving around the classroom collecting answer sheets. According to Masvingo District Schools Inspector Ishmael Chigaba, one candidate’s answer sheet was blown through an open classroom window by the sudden whirlwind and was not recovered despite an extensive search. “Yesterday there was an incident at Rujeko Primary when Grade 7 learners were writing a multiple-choice paper,” Chigaba told The Midweek Watch.

“One candidate’s answer sheet was blown through an open window by a whirlwind which suddenly appeared. The paper was not recovered.” Teachers and pupils searched the school grounds and areas beyond the perimeter wall but failed to locate the missing script. The school then contacted the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), which sent officials to assess the situation.

Chigaba said the candidate was subsequently required to rewrite the examination. “The school authorities contacted ZIMSEC, which rushed to the school. After assessing the situation, the candidate was asked to rewrite the paper,” he said. “The situation was handled professionally, and everything is under control.” The incident has since generated discussion among parents and members of the community, particularly because the affected learner is reportedly one of the school’s top performers.

However, there is currently no evidence that the examination script was deliberately taken or that another person was responsible for its disappearance. Some parents have nevertheless linked the incident to beliefs about jealousy and bad omens. Messages circulating in WhatsApp groups criticised parents who frequently post about their children’s academic achievements on social media, with some suggesting that such posts can attract jealousy or misfortune.

Those claims remain matters of personal belief and have not been supported by any evidence connected to the missing examination script. The incident comes as Grade 7 learners across Zimbabwe sit their ZIMSEC examinations, with schools responsible for maintaining examination conditions and accounting for candidates’ scripts. ZIMSEC’s intervention ensured that the affected candidate was able to complete the Mathematics examination despite the loss of the original answer sheet.

Rujeko Primary Grade 7 exam script