. KAPEYA

By XAVIER MANCHISHI –
GOVERNMENT has said the 60 per cent pass rate in the 2013 joint examination for the school certificate and General Certificate of Education (GCE) ordinary level is as a result of the various interventions introduced in the education sector
Chief Government spokesperson Mwansa Kapeya cited early childhood education, massive teacher recruitment, upward salary adjustments, infrastructure upgrade and an increase in the budgetary allocation to education as the reasons behind the high pass rate.
In 2012, the national pass rate was 58.08 per cent and it improved in 2013 to 60.21 per cent, while the failure rate reduced from 2.15 per cent to 1.70 per cent.
The 2013 results exceeded the 2011 and 2012 results by over two per cent and had improved significantly.
“Government also wishes to congratulate the teachers and the pupils for this monumental achievement in the education sector under the able leadership of His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata,” Mr Kapeya said.
He said Government was pleased that the nation had achieved such a high pass rate within a short period of implementing some ambitious policies.
In order to absorb all the girls and boys who passed the 2013 joint examination for the school certificate and GCE ordinary level, Government had in the short term directed all provincial education officers to increase the number of school places in each grade 10 classes from 35 to 45.
Mr Kapeya said Government had further directed Chipata, Mansa and Kasama Trades Training Institutes to take on 95 pupils each, including those who wished to enroll for life training skills alongside their regular schooling.
“In the long term, Government has embarked on a programme to upgrade 220 basic schools across the country to secondary schools.
“Funds for this exercise have been provided for in the 2014 National Budget,” he said.
He said Government was further pleased that the pass rate for girls had increased from 54.98 per cent in 2012 to 57.85 per cent in 2013.
He said increasing the number of girls passing such examinations was one of the strategic priorities of the Patriotic Front Government to enhance the participation of women in decision making and national development.
“This outcome must therefore be celebrated together with the commemoration of International Women’s Day which falls on 8th March, 2014 under the theme ‘Inspiring change: Celebrating God’s favour on 50 years Women’s Excellence and Achievements’,” he said.