The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council is aiming for a 50 percent O-Level pass rate as the 2026 examinations get underway, according to Herald.co.zw. The outlet reports that the target would be a historic one for the council if reached.
The 2026 sitting has now begun, Herald.co.zw reported on Saturday, 10 October 2026. The council has not previously recorded a pass rate at that level, the outlet said, describing the figure as a milestone it is pursuing this year.
The report did not include the total number of candidates registered for the 2026 O-Level exams, nor a breakdown by subject or centre. It also did not state the pass rates recorded in earlier years, so the size of the gap between the current target and past results is not clear from the material available.
ZIMSEC oversees national examinations in Zimbabwe, and its O-Level results are closely watched because they shape progression to A-Level and other post-secondary pathways. A pass rate at the 50 percent mark would represent a significant shift in outcomes for the cohort sitting this year, based on the council's stated goal as reported by Herald.co.zw.
What to watch next: official ZIMSEC figures once the 2026 O-Level results are released, which will show whether the council met its stated target.
