No More Over-Achievers: Govt Caps ZIMSEC Subjects, Orders Schools To Refund Excess Exam Fees

By Staff Reporter
Govt Orders Schools To Refund Excess Exam Fees As It Sets Limits On ZIMSEC Subjects
The Government has drawn a line in the sand for Zimbabwe’s academic high-flyers, ordering schools to refund exam fees for subjects beyond a strict new limit and effectively slamming the door on candidates attempting to register for more than nine O-Level or three A-Level subjects.

The directive, which comes as the March 27 registration deadline for the November 2026 public examinations fast approaches, follows a heated national debate ignited by a Pamushana High School student who sat 12 A-Level subjects and scored 56 points in 2025.

Schools have now been told they will not be permitted to accept fees for excess subjects, with refunds already being processed for those who paid for extra registrations.

‘We Will Not Accept Registration Fees’: Ministry Enforces Hard Cap
The new policy, which aligns with the Heritage-Based Curriculum, was reinforced during a National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) national council meeting in Gweru last Monday. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has made it clear that there will be no room for manoeuvre for those seeking to register an excessive number of subjects.

Director of communications and advocacy at the Ministry, Mr Taungana Ndoro, confirmed the hardline stance and outlined the financial consequences for families who had already paid for additional subjects.

“The policy on putting a cap on the number of subjects that one has to register for their O- and A-Level subjects is ongoing. We will not accept registration fees from those who want to register more than the stipulated number of subjects. Those who paid for more will get refunded.”

‘Empirical Point Of View’: The Mukudzei Ziveyi Effect
The catalyst for the strict enforcement appears to be the extraordinary case of Mukudzei Ziveyi, a 19-year-old from Pamushana High School in Masvingo Province. In 2025, Ziveyi sat 12 A-Level subjects—far beyond the standard three—and achieved an astonishing 56 points. His subjects ranged from Mathematics to Crop Science, and his success required a special timetable deviation from Zimsec to manage clashing papers.

His mother, Loise Maisiri, previously revealed the family’s sacrifice to make the feat possible.

“We sold three cows so that he could register for those 12 subjects he wanted, the other money also came from his father’s salary.”

While Ziveyi’s achievement drew praise, it also sparked widespread debate among educators and lawmakers. Critics argued that such practices encouraged a culture where quantity was prioritised over quality, creating unhealthy academic pressure and setting unrealistic expectations for ordinary learners.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education, Supa Mandiwanzira, defended the crackdown, insisting it was based on evidence rather than a knee-jerk reaction to one student’s success.

“We look at what is practical and from what Government is saying, this makes sense. This policy has been flexible and is not rigid, as there have been exceptions for some talented learners. The implementation or enforcement of this policy is being done from an empirical point of view. There is evidence that has been gathered to support such measures.”

Refunds, Deadlines And The End Of Academic Overload
With the March 27 registration deadline now looming, schools and parents are scrambling to comply with the new limits. The Ministry has made it clear that any registration fees paid for subjects exceeding the cap will be refunded, though the timeline for processing those refunds remains unclear.

The policy shift effectively ends an era in which ambitious candidates could register for a double-digit number of subjects in a bid to maximise their university entry points. Education authorities argue that the previous trend risked compromising quality, encouraging surface learning and placing unnecessary pressure on learners.

The new limits are intended to standardise examination practices, reduce academic overload and ensure that learners are adequately prepared in line with curriculum expectations. For families who had pinned their hopes on a broad subject portfolio, the refunds will offer some financial relief—but the message from the Ministry is unambiguous: the days of the over-achiever are over.