Zimbabwe Moves To Make ZIMSEC Exams Mandatory From 2027

Zimbabwe’s education system is set for a major shift after government announced that all schools will be required to register learners for national examinations under the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) starting in 2027.

By Advent Shoko

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo confirmed the policy direction, saying the move is aimed at strengthening national standards and reinforcing education sovereignty.

Under the new framework, every school operating in Zimbabwe will be expected to offer ZIMSEC examinations without exception. However, institutions that wish to continue offering Cambridge examinations will be allowed to do so only after receiving official approval and providing clear justification.

Moyo stressed that the policy is not intended to ban foreign examinations, but to ensure a unified national assessment system.

“From 2027, Zimbabwe will require every school without exception to register its learners for ZIMSEC examinations… This is not an attack on academic excellence. We are not banning Cambridge examinations. This is an assertion of national sovereignty over our own education system.”

The minister added that the government wants to end what he described as a “two-tier system” that has long created perceptions that international examinations such as Cambridge are superior to local ones. Currently, some schools offer only Cambridge examinations, with marking conducted outside Zimbabwe, mainly in England.

The policy shift means all learners will be assessed under a common national framework, regardless of whether they attend public or private institutions. Government says this is meant to ensure equality, fairness, and consistent academic benchmarking across the country.

Moyo also made it clear that compliance will not be optional, warning that private institutions must align with national education policy or risk falling out of step with government direction.

The announcement is expected to spark debate among educators, parents, and private schools, especially those who have traditionally relied on Cambridge curricula.

As implementation approaches, attention will now turn to how schools adapt to the dual-exam approval system and whether Zimbabwe’s education sector can smoothly transition into a fully standardised national model.