Grade seven results out

About 90 percent of the 3-hundred and 44-thousand 5-hundred and 16 pupils who sat for grade 7 exams in October this year have made it to grade 8.

General Education Minister John Phiri says 3-hundred and 10-thousand 2-hundred and 30 candidates have made it to grade 8 recording an increase in progression rate from 90.02 percent last year to 90.08percent this year.

He says 88.35percent of those that have passed are boys while 91percent are girls.

Dr. Phiri says about 34-thousand 2-hundred and 86 candidate who have not been formally selected into regular classes will be absorbed into existing classes.

He has directed the Directorate of Distance and Open Education to ensure those not formally selected continue with their education through being absorbed into existing classes.

The Minister has since attributed the improvement in progression rate to government’s infrastructure development projects.

He adds that 220 primary schools are also being upgraded.

Dr. Phiri has however expressed concern that initially 3-hundred and 83-thousand 6-hundred and 76 entered for exams but only 3-hundred and 44 thousand 5-hundred and 16 sat for composite exams with 39-thousand 1-hundred and 60 being absent.

The Minister has since commended the Examinations Council of Zambia -ECZ-, staff in his Ministry and teachers across the country for delivering the grade 7 exams results in record time so that the grade 8 students can open at the same time with the rest.

And ECZ Chairperson Wabei Mangambwa says the exams were incident free and the council processed them in record time so that parents can prepare adequately for their children.

znbc