About 174,000 out of over 280,000 pupils who sat for the grade seven examinations this year have made it to grade eight.
Education minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa announced the results at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
Dr Lungwangwa said in this years’ results of the 174,173 candidates selected to grade eight, 85,842 are boys and 88,331 are girls.
He said the results give a progression rate of 60.33 percent as compared to 52.65 percent in 2006.
In 2007 315,177 candidates (173,670 boys and 141507 girls) entered the examination compared to 293,583 candidates in 2006 representing a total increase of 7.36 percent.
However, a total number of 288,708 (159,922 boys and 128,786 girls ) sat for the examinations in 2007 compared to 268,097 in 2006 representing an increase of 7.69 percent.
The minister said that the progression rate for Lusaka province has increased to 52.42 percent from 25.70 percent recorded in 2006.
Dr lugwangwa attributed the increase in the progression rate for Lusaka province to the newly built basic schools as well as the upgrading of 19 middle basic schools to upper basic schools.
He said Western province recorded the highest rate of absenteeism at 11.29 percent while Lusaka province recorded the lowest rate of absenteeism at 5.91 percent.
He urged members of the public to obtain the results from the schools were the candidates sat for the exanimations.
Dr lugwangwa said grade eight classes will open will open on Monday, 7th January, 2008 and that the grace period will be extended to Monday, 21st January, 2008.
He warned that pupils who will fail to report at their respective schools by the end of the grace period will lose their places.
Meanwhile Dr Lungawangwa has issued statutory instrument dissolving the council of the National College for Management and Development Studies to Mulungushi University.
He said that to ensure effective operation of Mulungushi University the process of appointing members of the university council is under way as provided for under the first schedule and that these will take appointment according to part 1 section 2 (1)
of the university of Zambia Act no. 11 of 1999.
The appointments take effect on 1st January 2008.
He said the appointments will allow for continuity of academic programmes’ being carried over from the college into the university and will also allow the university council time to develop terms and conditions of service for the staff before the recruitment process commences.
The minister further noted that the establishment of Mulungushi University is historic to Zambians and has appealed the stakeholders to support the new university in its quest to contribute to national development efforts and realize the Vision 2030.
i think it’s a very progressive and foresighted step our government has undertaken. the announcing of the setting up of the new university, will not only help further research and reduce the overload in our currently, but will also bring light and finacial gain to the surrounding community.