THE Zimbabwe School Examinations Council is urging all Grade Seven markers to report to their respective Zimsec regional offices to confirm their marking status. In a statement yesterday, Zimsec director Mr Esau Nhandara said the markers should have confirmed their status by Friday this week.

"We were waiting for the release of money from Treasury. An arrangement has been made through Treasury which allows us to start marking," he said.

The delay by Treasury to release the US$1,5 million required for the marking of the Grade Seven examinations in turn delayed marking by two weeks.

"We are trying our best to quickly mark the examinations, but it is unlikely that we would have completed the process when schools close. We have delayed by two weeks," Mr Nhandara said.

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart on Monday confirmed that the delay in the marking of the examination was because the Finance Minister was yet to release funds.

"The money has to be released first. We cannot contract the markers when we do not have the money because it will create problems for us when the markers have finished marking the examinations," Minister Coltart said.