The National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has hailed the increased pass rate recorded in the primary and junior secondary school leaving examinations.

NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa, says the improved pass rate from 52 to 55 % in the JSSLE is testament of the commitment of both the teachers, learners and positive government policies.

Mr Chansa told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that the improvement should be commended as there was no record of leakages recorded during the exams.

He stressed that there’s need for all stakeholders to unite and completely stamp out examination 

malpractice which is a danger to the country’s education sector.

” We did not record any leakages but a few malpractices, exam malpractices deface the name of the sector and the integrity of exams, so this improvement is worth commending because it can be attributed to the hard work of teachers, candidates and the Ministry itself ” he said.

Mr Chansa however noted the need for strengthened homework policy and foundational stages concerning literacy and numerous lessons and construction of libraries in public schools.

He noted that this will encourage reading and writing among pupils in public schools across the country.

Mr Chansa has however expressed concern over the high absenteeism of registered pupils recorded in the examinations.

He called on the government to establish the cause of the matter and intervene in addressing the issue to avoid recurrences of such in future.

And Mr Chansa has commended government’s continued support to the sector through consistent funding and other initiatives and further called for the establishment of initiatives that will motivate high performance teachers.

He also appealed to the government to ensure that the primary school sub-sector receives adequate funding. 

Meanwhile Mr Chansa has reiterated that Education Minister Douglas Syakalima’s call to include ethical and moral lessons in early childhood education.

Mr Chansa said issues of morality and ethics are very important and should be instilled in learners from an early age.

He however, stressed that issues of morality are cross-cutting and should be introduced to learners at all levels if the country is to raise morally upright citizens.

Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima announced yesterday that exam results for 2024 have slightly improved compared to 2023.