By Mubanga Mubanga
The Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ) has clarified that results being accessed through the Short Messages Service (SMS), only show taught subjects.
ECZ announced grade 7 and 9 results yesterday but several parents took to social media to complain about why Special Paper one and Paper two were not showing on the results of the children.
In a press release, acting public relations manager Angela Mwandu explained that the grade seven certificate was obtained from the best four taught subjects, with each subject being passed individually.
She added that only candidates who obtained the grade 7 certificate had been selected to grade eight.
Mwandu also stated that Special Paper 1 and Paper 2 do not appear on the SMS system because they are not taught and therefore, do not contribute towards certification.
“They however, contribute towards selection for those who have obtained the grade seven certificate. They (Paper 1 and Paper 2), will be accessed by those with grade 7 certificates through the schools, once the selection process is concluded,” stated Mwandu.
During the announcement of results, Education minister Douglas Syakalima said Zambia had recorded a decrease in the number of candidates who had progressed to grade eight after the abolishment of grade seven automatic progression.
Syakalima announced that out of the total of 454,213 who sat for grade seven exams, 316,690 obtained school certificates
The minister said those who obtained division 4 will not be eligible to progress to eight and head teachers should not allow them to be in grade eight class.
“Of the 454, 213 Zambians who sat for examination 137, 523 candidates representing 30.82 percent obtained division 4. These are the candidates who are not eligible for selection to grade 8 in 2024, because they failed to make the primary school certificate,” Syakalima said.
He also said at grade nine there was a decrease in the number of candidates who passed exams.
“A total of 313,791 candidates entered the 2023 grade 9 examination representing an increase of 2.07 percentage points from 2022. Of the total candidates entered 148.42 were boys representing 47.81 percent were boys. While 167.749 were girls representing 52.82 percent. Out of the 313,191 who entered the examination 291,894 sat the examination, and that represents 93.02 percent. And out of that number 137,402 were boys which represents 47.07 percent and 154,492 were girls which represents 52.93 percent. Out of the 291,894 Candidates that sat 2023 junior secondary school leaving examination 156,315 candidates obtained certificates representing 53.55 percent this showed a marginal decrease in certificate pass rate from 54.1 percent in 2022,” Syakalima explained.
Meanwhile, the minister warned that the new dawn government will not tolerate exams malpractice saying it was the reason it has repealed the ECZ Act 15 of 1993 and replaced it with the ECZ Act 2023.
