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The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) is in the process of revising the Examinations Council Act Cap 137 of the Laws of Zambia to stiffen penalties involving examination malpractices.
And Government will this year open Grade 10 classes at three Trades Training Institutes to start as a pilot project namely Mansa, Ukwimi and Chipata trades.
Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, John Phiri, says malpractices would paint a good picture and credibility of the education systems in the country.
Dr Phiri says government, working with its cooperating partners, is determined to eradicate examination malpractices in learning institutions.
The Minister said this in Lusaka April 8th during the official opening of a one-day second Annual Performance Review meeting held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
This was in a speech ready on his behalf by Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Permanent Secretary (PS), Patrick Nkanza.
Dr Phiri is happy that the 2013 inaugural performance review meeting enabled his ministry create a turning point by implementing strategies that led to improved performance of pupils thereby changing the landscape of the country’s education system.
Dr Phiri said examination results pass-rate for Grades 7, 9 and 12 increased tremendously country-wide but malpractices and absenteeism among the pupils last year still remained a major thorn in the education system of this country.
He directed ECZ to always provide information that will create a valuable feedback on the performance of learners to all stakeholders in the education sector in order to seal the loop holes associated with examination malpractices.
He disclosed that four teachers along with four other people have been jailed in Kalulushi district on the Copperbelt province while several other teachers are on suspension for allegedly involving themselves in examination malpractices while some cases are still in court.
The Minister said to address this, government has revised the new curriculum and recently launched the national mobilization campaign on reading dubbed “Let’s read Zambia.”
He observed that private and grant-aided schools performed better than government schools in the said grades under review.
The Minister commended the Provincial Education Officers for attending the annual meeting to help them develop strategies aimed at improving the performance of their regions.
Meanwhile, ECZ Director, Michael Chilala, was among other 15 students who graduated with a Diploma in Leadership Development in ICT and the Knowledge Society Course at Dublin City University in Ireland.
Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education PS, Patrick Nkanza who presented the certificates said Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is vital to accelerate national development.
And Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative Chief Executive Officer, Jerome Morrisey, disclosed that Zambia would be among other 12 African countries that would benefit a 2-year funding from the initiative effective next year.
Mr Morrisey said Zambian students performed exemplary good in the course and jobs are already guaranteed for them.
