All Schools, Including Private, to Write ZIMSEC from 2027 As Minister Pushes Long-Standing Policy
Zimbabwe’s government has confirmed that all schools in the country, including private institutions, will be required to write Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) exams from 2027. The announcement builds on earlier statements by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerayi Moyo, who has consistently pushed for a unified national curriculum and examination system.
Private Schools Now Fully Included In ZIMSEC Policy
Speaking during a Senate session on 1 May 2026, Minister Moyo made it clear that the policy applies to every school without exception, including private and trust schools.
“Starting in 2027, all the schools in this country are going to offer one examination, Zimbabwe School Examination Council. It will be mandatory for all the schools in Zimbabwe, according to the law,” he said.
He stressed that the move is rooted in Zimbabwe’s legal framework.
“The law says there must be one curriculum, that’s the Constitution of Zimbabwe. In 2027, every school must be offering Zimbabwe School Examination Council examinations,” he added.
The directive effectively brings private schools, many of which have traditionally followed international syllabi, under the same national assessment system as public institutions.
Minister’s Earlier Warnings Now Take Effect
The latest announcement reinforces positions Minister Moyo has been stating since early 2026. On 12 February 2026, during a meeting with the Association of Trust Schools at the University of Zimbabwe, he made it clear that private schools would not be exempt.
“The Education Act explicitly provides the Ministry with the authority to determine curricula and examinations for all schools in Zimbabwe,” he said at the time.
He also emphasised that international examinations could not replace national standards.
“The choice to sit for international examinations should serve as an addition to, not a replacement of, the national standard,” he said.
These remarks signalled a policy direction that is now being formalised through the 2027 requirement.
Cambridge To Remain But With Conditions
While private schools are now required to offer ZIMSEC, the government says international qualifications such as Cambridge will still be permitted under strict conditions.
“If they think their students are bright, are intelligent enough, they can offer both Cambridge and ZIMSEC, but they must justify how they are going to achieve it,” Minister Moyo said during the Senate session.
This means Cambridge and other international exams will no longer operate as standalone alternatives but will instead be treated as additional qualifications.
Heritage-Based Curriculum Central To Reforms
The ZIMSEC requirement is part of a broader push to enforce the Heritage-Based Curriculum across all schools, including private institutions. Minister Moyo has repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of local content in some schools.
During a Senate session on 26 February 2026, he said:
“Many schools no longer teach the history of Zimbabwe — where we came from and where we are going.”
He also highlighted gaps in language teaching.
“Our indigenous languages such as Shona, Ndebele, Kalanga, Shangani and Tonga are not taught in many schools,” he said.
Authorities say the reforms are aimed at ensuring that every learner, regardless of whether they attend a public or private school, is grounded in Zimbabwe’s national identity and development goals.
Training programmes for educators are already underway, as the government moves to enforce compliance ahead of the 2027 deadline.
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