The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) says it has enhanced its candidate registration system to capture details of parents or guardians, including phone numbers and email addresses, in a move aimed at improving accuracy and accountability in the management of national examinations.
Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ), Chief Executive Officer Michael Chilala says the new system will allow parents and guardians to verify candidate details and subject entries early, thereby reducing post-examination complaints.
Dr. Chilala stated that the new system will also help track learners migrating between schools and enforce the Ministry of Education’s directive that government schools should no longer host private school candidates during examinations.
Speaking during the official presentation of the 2025 examination results in Lusaka, the CEO said the improvements form part of the Council’s commitment to strengthening examination administration and service delivery.
He also addressed public concerns regarding the requirement for birth records, explaining that the measure is intended to enhance data integrity.
Dr. Chilala further noted that close to 10,000 Grade Seven candidates were recorded as being 10 years old, a situation that raised questions about the accuracy of age data during registration.
He also clarified that while birth records are encouraged, they are not mandatory, and no candidate will be denied registration.
The ECZ CEO further disclosed that the National Registration Office is issuing letters of confirmation of birth to support parents who are still waiting for birth certificates.
He further confirmed that the 2025 Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and Junior Secondary School Leaving Examination (JSSLE) were successfully conducted and processed without any examination paper leakage.
He thanked the government for continued support, noting that backing from the Ministry of Education enabled the Council to effectively carry out its mandate.
Dr. Chilala acknowledged the Permanent Secretary for Administration, the Permanent Secretary for Educational Services and directors from Standards, Assessment and Evaluation, Secondary Education and Curriculum Development for ensuring that the examinations remained aligned to the curriculum and met required standards of validity and reliability.
He further revealed that ECZ has completed drafting the assessment skills framework and examination syllabus in line with the 2023 Competency-Based Curriculum.
He highlighted that stakeholder engagements will continue into 2026 to finalise implementation, including the rollout of school-based assessment guidelines expected to reach schools by the end of the first quarter of 2026.
He reaffirmed ECZ’s commitment to innovation, examination security, and safeguarding the credibility of national examinations, thanking teachers, ministry officials, and all stakeholders for their continued support.
