HARARE – The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has ordered schools to stop registering learners for more than nine subjects at Ordinary Level and three subjects at Advanced Level, citing concerns over learner welfare, curriculum integrity and academic standards.
The directive follows a growing trend of students registering for unusually high numbers of subjects, highlighted recently by a Pamushana High School learner who sat for 12 Advanced Level examinations and scored 56 points.
“The ministry has a clear and revised policy on this matter. To ensure depth of learning, quality of instruction and the integrity of learner outcomes, the ministry has instituted a cap on the number of examinable subjects,” ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said.
“The standard is a maximum of nine subjects at Ordinary Level and three principal subjects at Advanced Level under the Heritage-Based Curriculum.”
The learner, Mukudzei Ziveyi, revealed that he attended only one lesson per subject per week, while his school — in consultation with ZIMSEC — made special arrangements for him to sit some examinations alone after others had finished due to timetable clashes.
Ndoro said the ministry would now be “implementing a strict cap” to curb what it views as unnecessary excess.
“This decisive move aims to promote profound understanding and competency in core learning areas, prevent pupil burnout from excessive academic loads, and align all schools and learners with a standardised, manageable curriculum framework,” he told The Sunday News.
He added that the policy is aligned with tertiary education requirements, noting that universities locally and internationally require passes in three A’ Level subjects for entry.
“Our focus now is on ensuring compliance and supporting schools and learners in achieving excellence within this structured framework,” Ndoro said.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba also weighed in on Sunday, describing additional subjects beyond the standard three at A’ Level as “illusory grandeur.”
“Anything beyond the 15 points in three subjects is superfluous, and some vanity flight,” Charamba wrote on X.
“No attention is given to needless pressure and stress on the misguided child, the financial strain on parents, or the profligate misuse of time — all without a clear career path.”
Charamba said his son, who is sitting his A’ Level exams this year, had tried registering more than three subjects.
Charamba recalled: “Firmly, I sat him down: Young man, what do you want to do in life? I want to be a medical doctor, he answered. Perfect; which subjects and how many points do you require to get into a medical school? Maths, Chemistry and Biology, he responded, adding points above 13 would put him in good stead. Perfect, you go and register for those three and let’s get you to try your best in those. Anything else, you will do later!
“He is now cracking his Upper Sixth and I prayerfully hope he makes it. He might not hit cheap headlines if he does well in those three subjects; but he will enroll into a medical school, hopefully to become a good doctor who attends to those with 55 points at A’ Level.”
