The Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) recorded a 75 percent pass rate in the March 2026 examination session, signaling continued improvement in Zimbabwe’s technical and vocational education sector.
Figures released this week show that the March results surpassed both the previous examination session and the same period last year, highlighting steady gains in student performance across polytechnics and vocational training centres.
The latest pass rate marks a five percentage point increase from the 70 percent achieved during the November/December 2025 main examination session. It also represents an eight percentage point rise compared to the 67 percent recorded in March 2025.
Education authorities attributed the positive trend to strengthened teaching methods, improved resource allocation, and growing student commitment in technical and vocational institutions.
Speaking on the results, HEXCO chief executive officer Fanuel Tagwira said the improvements were evidence that ongoing interventions in the sector were producing positive outcomes.
"The results are encouraging and confirm that the interventions we put in place are yielding results," he said. "A sustained rise in pass rates shows our students are responding well, and it gives us confidence that technical and vocational education is on the right path."
Although the March examination session traditionally attracts fewer candidates than the main November/December sitting, stakeholders say the consistent rise in pass rates in both sessions has become an important indicator of progress within the sector.
Education experts have welcomed the trend, describing it as a positive development for Zimbabwe's skills development drive and industrialisation agenda.
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The improved performance is expected to strengthen confidence in technical colleges and vocational training institutions, which play a key role in producing skilled, job-ready graduates for the economy.
