November 2020 O-Level Pass Rate Falls By 6.8 Percent

Owen Kaura

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZImsec) November 2020 Ordinary level results are out.

Candidates recorded a 24.8 percent pass rate, which is down 6.8 percent from the class of 2019.

Of the 184 249 candidates who wrote five or more subjects 45 644 passed 5 or more subjects with grade C or better. In 2019 of the 200 062 who wrote five or more subjects 63 215 obtained grade C or better in 5 or more subjects, translating to 31.6 percent that year.

A total of 264 099 students sat for the 2020 Zimsec ‘O” level Examinations compared to 296 464 candidates who sat for the same examinations in 2019, translating to a decrease in candidature of 11 percent.

Males performed better with a 26.5 percent pass rate compared to the 23.7 percent recorded by females.

In a statement on Monday Zimsec Board Chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje said: “It is important for all stakeholders to note that the 2020 calendar was disrupted and that candidates wrote the examinations under lockdown.

“This means that the 2020 results are within range and that is commendable considering the devastating conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

He added, “It is also important to note that some countries that went into national lockdowns also experienced a decrease in pass rate.”

Candidates can start accessing results from 10pm on Monday on www.zimsec.co.zw or from their respective Centres from Tuesday.