Thu, 28 Dec 2017 10:05:49 +0000
By MUKOSELA KASALWE
WHILE some teachers recently dented the leading profession through sex scandals and forgery of certificates, others are being praised for producing 99 percent pass rate for Grade 7 pupils.
National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ), executive director Aaron Chansa said the Grade 7 pass rate was impressive especially that the examinations were not marred with leakages.
Commenting on the grade 7 and 9 results, Mr Chansa said it was gratifying to note that all the provinces except for Lusaka had produced a pass rate of almost 100 percent for Grade 7.
He said there was need for an explanation from the Lusaka Provincial Education officer for the province after it recorded a below-par performance.
The non-governmental organisation has commended the Examinations Council of Zambia and the Ministry of General Education for the timely release of the 2017 Grades 7 and 9 results.
“We heartily congratulate all grade 7 teachers and the pupils for producing 98.6 percent, almost 100 percent.”
“This national pass rate is very good especially that these exams were not marred with leakages. All the provinces have produced 100 percent except Lusaka,” he said.
He said the timely release of the results would give parents and guardians ample time to prepare for the first term in 2018 unlike in the past when pupils who made it to grade 8 and 10 were academically disadvantaged due to results being released late.
Mr Chansa said despite some improvement in performance at Grade 9, from around 49.5 percent to 52 percent incidences of examination malpractices were highlighted.
He was hopeful that the Ministry of Education and the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) would eventually find practical means and ways of curbing leakages at Grade 9 level.
