Zimbabwe School Examinations Council
{{Short description|Zimbabwe's local examination board}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Zimbabwe School Examinations Council
| image = File:ZIMSEC Logo.png
| size = 160px
| abbreviation = ZIMSEC
| formation = 2024
| type = Parastatal
Examination board
| headquarters = Upper East Road, Mount Pleasant
Harare, Zimbabwe
| coords = {{coord|17|47|11.456|S|31|2|38.65|E|display=inline,title}}
| region_served = Zimbabwe
| website = {{URL|http://www.zimsec.co.zw/}}
}}
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) is an autonomous parastatal under the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture of the Republic of Zimbabwe, responsible for the administration of public examinations in Zimbabwean schools.{{cite web|url=http://www.parlzim.gov.zw/cms%5CActs%5CTitle25_EDUCATION,_SPORT_AND_CULTURE/ZIMBABWE_SCHOOL_EXAMINATIONS_COUNCIL_ACT_25_18.pdf |title=Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Act (Chapter 25:18)|publisher=Parliament of Zimbabwe|access-date=2009-01-05}} Its syllabuses were evaluated by the National Academic Recognitiation Centre (NARIC) in the United Kingdom, and found to be equivalent to the General Certificate Of Education Standard offered in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, United States of America and the other English-speaking countries, hence the internationally recognised qualifications conferred by the Council.{{cite web|url=http://www.zimsec.co.zw/ABOUT.html|title=Zimbabwe School Examinations Council About|publisher=Zimbabwe School Examinations Council|access-date=2014-07-25|archive-date=2 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802083950/http://zimsec.co.zw/ABOUT.html|url-status=dead}}
History
The table below shows the brief history of ZIMSEC.
| border="1" style="border-collapse:collapse;" class="wikitable sortable" |
| Date
! Event/Occasion Summary |
|---|
| 1983
|Cabinet decision to localise Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations |
| 1984
|Training of the first lot of markers |
| November 1990
|First localised Ordinary Level examination written |
| 1994
|Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Act (ZIMSEC ACT 1994) was passed by the Parliament. |
| 1995
|Completion of the localisation of the Ordinary Level examination. |
| October 1995
|The first ZIMSEC Board was appointed. |
| November 1995
|Birth of ZIMSEC under an Interim Director. |
| 1 July 1996
|First substantive ZIMSEC Director appointed. |
| 1 November 1996
|Former Examinations Branch staff joined ZIMSEC after the abolition from Public Service. |
| November 2002
|First ZIMSEC Advanced Level examination being written. |
| 2003
|Completion of the localisation of Advanced Level examinations. |
Qualifications
The following qualifications are offered by ZIMSEC:
- for primary education
- ZIMSEC Grade Seven Certificate, awarded after sitting for Grade Seven (Year Seven) examinations.
- for secondary education
- ZIMSEC General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (commonly referred to as "O-Levels"), this is for individuals doing the 2 year GCE O-Levels subject-based course beginning in Form 3 to Form 4 (i.e. Year 10 and 11)
- ZIMSEC General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (commonly referred to as "A-Levels"), this is the school leaving qualification conferred by the Council to pupils completing secondary or pre-university education.