Grade 7, 9 results impressive -Minister
OVER 350,000 pupils who sat for Grade Seven examination shave qualified to Grade Eight representing 99 percent of the total number of candidates in the 2017 primary school leaving examinations, says General Education Minister Dennis Wanchinga.
And Dr Wanchinga has also announced that they have recorded an increase from 49 percent last year to 55 percent of the pass rate in the 2017 Grade Nine examination whose pupils have obtained full certificates in basic education.
The Minister made the announcement in Lusaka yesterday, that out of 364,546 candidates who sat for the 2017 Grade seven Composite examination, a total of 357,763 have been selected to Grade eight.
Dr Wanchinga said of the Grade seven candidates 181,206 were boys while 176,557 were girls bringing the national progression rate to 98.62 in 2017 from 97.65 last year.
He said all the provinces except Lusaka had recorded 100 percent progression rates.
Dr Wanchinga said out of 308,060 candidates who sat for the Grade 9 examination, a total of 162,539 candidates were selected to Grade 10 translating into a progression rate of 52.76 percent compared to 49.07 percent in 2016.
He said the highest progression rate was recorded in North-western Province at 60.06 percent followed by Northern Province at 59.63 percent, while the lowest progression rate was recorded in Southern Province at 45.36 percent followed by Eastern Province at 45.50 percent.
The minister said both the Grade seven and nine results were impressive and attributed them to Government’s good interventions in the education system.
“Allow me to commend the hard working men and women in the Ministry of General Education at all levels, the Council and staff of the Examinations Council of Zambia, teacher unions, law enforcement and all other stakeholders who ensured that the 2017 Grade 7 and Grade 9 examinations were efficiently conducted and results released in good time,” he said.
Dr Wanchinga said the results have been released in good time to allow for parents and guardians to adequately prepare.
He said the opening day for the 2018 Grades 8 and 10 learners would be January 15, 2018, with a grace period of two weeks and that learners who would fail to report would have their places forfeited.