GENERAL Education Minister Dennis Wanchinga says 94,010 students, out of the 147,055 who sat for the Grade 12 final examinations in 2020 have managed to obtain full certificates.

Speaking during a briefing, Friday, Wanchinga said out of 149,982 candidates that registered to write the examinations, 147,055 successfully wrote, representing 98.05 percent.

“In our school system, we had 149,982 candidates who had actually entered the 2020 school certificate examinations. Of this we had boys who were 51.9 percent translated into 77,955 while 72,027 or 48 percent were girls. There were 145 candidates with special education needs…This was not very bad; at least 98.05 percent actually sat for these examinations out of the 149,982 who had initially indicated their intentions to sit for these exams, we had 147,055 candidates actually sitting for the examination. Of those who entered this exam, we had 76,324 or 51 percent being boys while 70,731 or 48 percent were girls. We had 142 candidates from special education who actually sat for these examinations representing 98 percent. Among the boys, we had 1,631 actually being absent. Out of the 72,027 girls who had actually entered for the exam, we had 1,296 actually absent,” Wanchinga said.

“The 2020 school certificate played out as follows: 147,055 candidates sat for the examination and we are pleased to inform the nation of the 147,055 who sat for these examinations, 94,010 representing 63.9 percent obtained a full certificate were as 49,032 representing about 33.3 percent obtained GCE certificate. 4,013 representing 2.7 percent actually failed. So, our actual pass rate in terms of those who obtained the full certificate is at, let me say 64 percent because it is at 63.9 percent. Of the 76,324 boys who sat the examinations, 2,332 or 3.06 percent failed the exam while 70,731 girls who sat for the examinations, we had 1,681 or 2.3 percent failing. Here, what we seeing is that even when we had more boys sitting for the exams, we seem to be seeing a higher failure rate among boys than girls. As regards to our children with special education needs, the 142 who sat for the examinations, 80 of them obtained school certificates that is at 56 percent and 55 of them that is 38 percent obtained GCE certificate obtained GCE certificate and seven or five percent failed the examinations.”

Wanchinga said 11 cases of suspected examination malpractice were recorded.

“Turning to the subjects which they sat for, the candidate performance was highest in design and technology at a mini score of 64 percent. Least performance was in science at a mini score of 24.2 percent. These subjects that is design which is practical is good for a number of children who could not benefit from hardcore mathematics and sciences subjects. We notice that the candidate’s performance was also poor in natural and social science subjects which included sciences, mathematics, history, civic education and literature english,” said Wanchinga.

“In 2020, we are again registering a malpractice free exam, where we did not have any paper flying around on social media. In terms of the grade 12 examinations we had however, a total 11 cases of suspected examination malpractice, seven of these were individual based, whereas four involved all centers. The cases where these malpractices occured where are subjects such as mathematics paper one, principles of accounts, food and nutrition and commerce. Those were involved in these malpractices had their examinations results withheld. Like that has been the case we would advise the nation that they can access their results through the SMS result.”

And Examination Council of Zambia ECZ director Michael Chilala said Southern Province ranked the highest in terms of the pass rate, representing 70.55 percent.

“The provincial ranking is as follows: Southern Province ranks number one at 70.55 percent school certificates pass rate. Western Province has moved to number two at 68.96 percent. Eastern Province they have moved to number three at 67.22 percent. Central Province, they moved to number four at 66.52 percent. Copperbelt has maintained number five position at 66.1 last year and 66.46 this year. Lusaka Province was number two last year at 67.39 percent and they have moved to number six at 62.67 percent. Northern Province was number six last year at 63.3 percent, they have moved to number seven this year at 59.68 percent. North Western Province was number seven last year at 63.3 percent, this year they have moved to eight at 59.53 percent. Luapula Province has maintained number nine at 57.56 percent last year and 58.79 percent this year. Muchinga was number eight last year at 58.88 percent and they have moved to number 10 this year at 54.51 percent,” said Chilala.