THE Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC) is demanding that parents and guardians pay examination fees at a rate higher than the official bank rate, it has emerged.
A statement ZIMSEC finance director to school heads and centres countrywide, dated 22 July 2022, advises that the acceptable exchange rate is $454,78 to the US dollar.
This is contrary to last week’s statement the same ZIMSEC in which it advised that the interbank bank rate that will be applicable will be as at 22 July. As of 22 July, the obtaining interbank rate according to the central bank is just under $414.
The demand by ZIMSEC will burden parents and guardians as they must make fees payments at registration centres during the period of 22 July to 29 July 2022.
For the November 2022 exams, Grade seven examinations fees for public schools, local authority schools and not for profit Mission Schools are pegged at US$10 with the government portion being US$12, meaning private schools the examination fee will be pegged at US$22.
For ordinary level, students at public schools, local authority schools and not for profit mission schools will pay, government subsidy US$24 and private schools, candidates will pay US$34 per subject.
Students sitting for their advanced level at public schools, local authority schools and not for profit mission schools will pay US$22 per subject, with the government subsidy being pegged at US$26 and private schools and candidates will pay US$48 per subject
Meanwhile, ZIMSEC further insists that centres must transmit funds to it in the samw currency that parents and guardians would have paid. This comes amid fears that some unscrupulous centres could take advantage of arbitrage to pocket a profit by switching the currency.
