Hexco Results Finally Out

Press Statement from the Zimbabwe National Students Union

Students in all Poly-technic Colleges set for their examinations in November to December 2008 after going through a rough term characterized by high and unaffordable fees, shortage of qualified lecturers and inadequate teaching and learning materials. After six months of waiting, Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) results for November and December 2008 were finally released on Monday 1 June 2009. HEXCO claims that financial constraints have hampered the release of results in time.

HEXCO results have always been released a month after writing examinations, allowing students time to register, write supplementary examinations and proceed to the next level.  Students in Poly-technic colleges are six months behind with their studies and are faced with a mammoth task of catching up, amidst a harsh economic environment, where they have to pay fees ranging from USD150 TO USD400, and also cater for all their educational costs. The lost six months will delay graduation and will impact negatively in the learning schedules and careers of students who have a market that does not have confidence in their qualifications.

ZINASU urges government to vigorously work towards making education affordable to all students rich or poor, as the majority of students are going to be further delayed because they cannot afford the fees. The Union applauds steps taken to engage the international community and humanitarian organizations in reviving the education sector. The drilling of boreholes and vehicle donation by UNICEF and WHO respectively at the University of Zimbabwe raises hope on the opening of the country’s largest institution that has remained closed for one academic year.

Issued by ZINASU 4 June 2009