Minister of Education, Douglas Syakalima, has announced that the 2025 Junior Secondary External and Junior Secondary School Leaving Examinations will be the last of their kind under the 2013 Zambia Education Curriculum Framework.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Syakalima explained that the decision aligns with the implementation of the 2023 Zambia Education Curriculum Framework.
Mr. Syakalima noted that students who enter Form 1 in 2025 will progress to Form 2 in 2026 without the need to sit for the Junior Secondary External Exams.
He further stated that pupils who fail the 2025 Junior Secondary External Exams and choose to repeat Grade 9 in 2026 would not gain any academic advantage, as they would still require four years to qualify for the School Certificate Examinations in 2029.
“Considering the timeline, it is more beneficial for candidates who fail the 2025 exam to start afresh in Form 1 in 2026 and complete their School Certificate at Form 4 in 2029,” said Mr. Syakalima.
He urged all stakeholders to support the Ministry’s ongoing education reforms, which are aimed at transforming Zambia into a prosperous middle-income nation by 2030.
Meanwhile, Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ) Director of Test Development, Albert Siamunaku, said the transition aligns with the competence-based curriculum, which emphasizes the application of knowledge, skills, and values to solve real-world challenges.
Mr. Siamunaku disclosed that 83 staff members from ECZ and the Ministry of Education have been trained in Competence-Based Assessment (CBA), along with 107 setters, to effectively implement the new curriculum.
He added that the finalization of the new assessment schemes is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2025.
Christabel Kamunu.
