By Own Correspondent

CITIZENS must brace tougher days ahead following Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube’s decision to scrap Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council’s Registration Fees subsidies.

Prior to the announcement ,the government of Zimbabwe covered 55% of the total cost of ZIMSEC examination fees for eligible regular candidates enrolled in public, local authority (council), and mission schools.

For instance, guardians were compelled to pay US$11 per every Ordinary Level Subject while the government absorbed US$13,20 per every subject to bring the total to US$24,00 per subject.For Advanced Level , students were charged US$22,00 while the government paid the difference to add it up to US$48,00  per subject.

But speaking during a Post-Cabinet briefing Tuesday, Ncube said the government had resolved to scrap such subsidies.

“ZIMSEC examination fee subsidy was introduced in 2020 as a COVID-19 relief measure and is now being streamlined following the end of the pandemic. Government will continue supporting pupils in rural P3 and S3 schools, satellite schools and BEAM beneficiaries in 2027, before transitioning to support only deserving BEAM beneficiaries from 2028 following an audit to improve the targeting of assistance,” he said.

Effectively, ZIMSEC will be left with no choice except to pass on the expense button to the already struggling parents.

Salaries being paid across the economic sectors continue to trail far behind the realistic cost of living for many citizens.

The decision comes shortly after Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education  Chairperson, Supa Mandiwanzira   told a pre-2027 Budget Conference in Bulawayo last week that nearly 40 000 learners dropped out of school in 2025 mainly because of financial hardship, funding shortages in government assistance programs among other factors.

Since assuming office, Ncube has persistently dangled ‘beautiful’ economic growth stats stating that in 2025 alone, the economy grew by 8.3% amid a 5% growth projection for 2025.

However, the reality facing ordinary citizens on a daily basis continues to tell a different story which reveals huge mismatches between publicized economic growth stats and waning pro-people government support systems.