Zimbabwe to Enforce ZIMSEC Exams for All Schools by 2027, Cambridge Subject to Approval

Zimbabwe’s Education Minister Torerayi Moyo has announced sweeping reforms that will require all schools to adopt a single national examination system by 2027, with international qualifications such as Cambridge only permitted under strict conditions. The directive, issued on May 1, 2026, mandates that every school in the country register learners for examinations administered by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), marking a decisive shift away from parallel examination systems.

“From 2027, Zimbabwe will require every school without exception to register its learners for ZIMSEC examinations. The era of parallel foreign examination systems operating outside our national framework is over,” Moyo said.

The policy applies to all institutions, including private and trust schools, and is part of broader efforts to standardise the country’s education system.

“It’s mandatory for all students to write ZIMSEC. This is not negotiable. Government policy is unambiguous comply or fall out of step with the direction this Republic is moving,” the minister added.

While international examinations such as Cambridge Assessment International Education have not been banned, schools wishing to offer them alongside ZIMSEC will now need to apply for government approval and provide justification.

“Schools wishing to offer both ZIMSEC and Cambridge should apply for permission to do so, provided there is justification,” Moyo said.

He reiterated the position during a Senate session, noting that schools may offer both systems only if they can demonstrate the capacity to manage them effectively.

“If they think their students are bright, they can offer both Cambridge and ZIMSEC, but they must justify how they are going to achieve it,” he said.

The move effectively removes Cambridge as a standalone alternative, repositioning it as a supplementary qualification subject to regulatory oversight.

The minister said the reforms are grounded in Zimbabwe’s Constitution and existing education laws, which emphasise a unified curriculum and assessment framework.

“The law says there must be one curriculum. In 2027, every school must be offering Zimbabwe School Examination Council examinations,” Moyo told lawmakers.

Education analysts say the policy could reshape Zimbabwe’s private school sector, where Cambridge examinations have traditionally been popular due to their international recognition.

“This signals a strong shift toward national standardisation, but it may raise concerns among parents who value global mobility and university access tied to international qualifications,” said an education policy expert based in Harare.

The policy is part of the Government’s push to fully implement the Heritage-Based Curriculum across all schools, ensuring that learners are grounded in Zimbabwe’s history, culture and identity. Moyo has previously expressed concern over declining emphasis on local content, particularly in history and indigenous languages.

“Many schools no longer teach the history of Zimbabwe where we came from and where we are going,” he said during a Senate session earlier this year.

He also highlighted gaps in language instruction, noting that indigenous languages such as Shona, Ndebele, Kalanga, Shangani, and Tonga are not consistently taught in some institutions.

Authorities argue that the reforms will ensure equal standards and recognition for all learners, regardless of the type of school they attend.

“We are building one education system. One standard. One Zimbabwe,” Moyo said.

The announcement is expected to trigger adjustments across Zimbabwe’s education sector, particularly among private schools that currently rely heavily on Cambridge examinations.

Stakeholders say clarity will be needed on implementation timelines, approval criteria, and how the dual-examination system will operate in practice.

ZIMSEC mandatory Zimbabwe