Tinotenda Hove- The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council has once again announced so-called enhanced security measures ahead of the 2026 examinations, a move that has become an annual ritual every time the credibility of the country’s education system is questioned.

ZIMSEC claims it will now use traceable question papers and personalised answer sheets, ostensibly to stop cheating.

According to the council, the traceable papers are meant to identify the centre where any leaked paper originated from, while personalised sheets are meant to block the smuggling of foreign scripts into exam rooms.

The measures are said to cover the whole chain from printing, packaging, distribution and storage to the actual writing of the examinations.

This comes as Grade Seven exams begin on 21 September, with O and A Level exams scheduled for 12 October.

However, the announcement does little to address the real crisis. For years, ZIMSEC has rolled out similar high-sounding measures, yet question papers still find their way onto social media platforms days before exams, with candidates and parents forced to pay exorbitant amounts for leaked papers.

Critics say the council is focusing on cosmetic security features instead of tackling the corruption and collusion within its own distribution network and at examination centres.

Without accountability for officials implicated in past leaks, personalised answer sheets will not stop a system where integrity has already been compromised from within.