A TOTAL of 243 form VI students who were barred from sitting for their national examinations early next year have been cleared.

Addressing reporters here, the Minister for Education and Vocational Training Mr Ali Juma Shamuhuna said that his office had reached a consensus that all the Form VI candidates from Zanzibar will sit for their examinations.

Previously the students had received letters from the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) disqualifying them from sitting for the exams, because of insufficient form IV credits.

The disqualifications sparked a lot of complaints from both Zanzibar students and parents, prompting Shamuhuna to take successful swift action.

"We discussed this matter urgently, and I am happy that all students from Zanzibar will sit for the exams. According to Zanzibar standards of selection, they all qualify," Shamuhuna said. He said that four officials from Zanzibar are members of NECTA, but surprisingly they were not consulted before disqualifying the Zanzibar 243 Form VI students from sitting for the exams.