Education Reforms Begin

Zambia Phases Out Grade 9 External Exams, 2025 Results Released

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24, (Sept 15, 2025) – Zambia has officially ended the Junior Secondary External Examination, with the 2025 session confirmed as the final one to be conducted, marking a significant milestone in the country’s education reforms. 

Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima announced the move on Monday while releasing the 2025 Grade 9 External and General Certificate of Education (GCE) results in Lusaka.

"It will not be there from 2026 going forward. The GCE will, however, continue to be offered to candidates,” Syakalima said.

The minister explained that the abolition of the Junior Secondary External Examination forms part of the government’s broader reforms aimed at improving the quality of learning and ensuring smoother progression through the school system.

"These reforms are intended to provide learners with a seamless learning pathway and improve the quality of outcomes across all levels of education,” he said.

Syakalima commended officials across all levels of the Ministry of Education and the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) for ensuring that the examinations were conducted, marked, and processed in a timely manner.

"I wish to commend the staff across all levels for their dedication and hard work, which has made it possible to release the results efficiently,” he said.

He emphasized that both examinations have historically provided opportunities for out-of-school youths and adults seeking to further their education.

"These examinations have offered second chances and opened doors for many citizens to improve their education and livelihoods,” he said, highlighting the social significance of the system even as it undergoes reform.

According to Syakalima, a total of 287,392 candidates registered for the two examinations, with 267,070 ultimately sitting.

For the Junior Secondary External, 138,152 candidates registered, and 130,615 sat, representing 94.54 percent participation.

Female candidates accounted for 56.97 percent of those who sat, continuing a trend of higher female participation across national exams.

Of those candidates, 102,271 (78.29 percent) passed at least one subject, while 28,344 (21.7 percent) failed completely.

Among the 36,049 candidates who sat for six or more subjects, 8,552 obtained full Grade 9 certificates, 19,718 received statements of results, and 7,779 failed.

"Performance across subjects varied, with Art and Design recording the highest mean score at 72.16 percent, while Religious Education recorded the lowest at 21.15 percent,” Syakalima reported.

For the GCE examination, 149,240 candidates registered, slightly fewer than in 2024. Of these, 136,455 sat, representing 91.43 percent participation, with females making up 68.77 percent.

Out of those who sat, 117,301 (85.96 percent) passed at least one subject, while 19,154 (14.04 percent) failed to pass any subject.

"Compared to 2024, the overall pass rate decreased by 1.42 percentage points,” the minister said. Among the 15,331 candidates who sat for five or more subjects, 3,990 obtained full General Certificates, 10,431 received statements, and 910 failed.

Syakalima also addressed examination malpractices, reporting that while there were no leaks of examination papers, other irregularities were recorded.

"A total of 17 cases of suspected malpractice were recorded in the Junior Secondary External Examination, while 479 cases were reported during the GCE. The results of the affected candidates have been withheld pending determination by the ECZ Board,” he said.

The minister emphasized that the government would not tolerate any acts that compromise the integrity of examinations.

"Erring individuals shall be dealt with in accordance with the law. The Republic of Zambia remains committed to upholding the credibility of its examination system,” Syakalima warned.

He highlighted other key trends from the results: the continuing dominance of female candidates in registration and participation, the uneven performance across subjects, and the large number of candidates receiving statements rather than full certificates.

These figures, he said, indicate both achievements and areas needing attention as the education system transitions under the new curriculum.

The minister said the results are immediately accessible via the SMS notification system and that candidates can access official results slips online from the ECZ portal after one week.

Reflecting on the significance of the 2025 examinations, Syakalima said:

"This year’s results mark both an end and a new beginning. While the Junior Secondary External Examination concludes, the reforms underway aim to create a more coherent, equitable, and high-quality education system for all learners. With these remarks, I officially release the 2025 Junior Secondary External and General Certificate of Education Examination results. May God continue to bless our nation.”