The 2024 General Certificate of Education (G.C.E) examination results have posted an increase in the pass rate compared to 2023.
And both the Junior Secondary School external (JSE) and GCE examinations were conducted without any leakages.
Announcing the results in Lusaka today, Education Minister Douglas Syakalima has said out of 138,084 that sat for GCE examination, 120, 660 representing 87.38 percent passed in at least one subject, while 17, 424 (12.62%) failed all the subjects they sat for.
The Minister said this is taking into consideration that candidates at GCE level can sit for a minimum of one subject.
“Compared to 2023, the pass rate indicated an increase of 6.48 percentage points. further, 24.72 percent (3, 649) of the 14,764 candidates who sat for five subjects or more, obtained the general certificate of education, while 5.12 percent (756) of them failed all the subjects they sat for.” Hon. Syakalima said.
The Minister went on to say that a total of 149,920 candidates entered for the 2024 general certificate of education examination, showing an increase by 1.55 percent from 147,629 who registered for the same examination in 2023. of the entered candidates, 32.29 percent (48,415) were male, while 67.71 percent (101,505) were female.
11,836 candidates, representing 7.89 percent were absent from the examination.
Mr. Syakalima added that the 2024 GCE absenteeism rate represented a decrease of 0.50 percentage points from 8.39 percent recorded in 2023 to 7.89 percent in 2024.
And for the 2024 junior Secondary External Examination results, 119,928 candidates registered for the examination of which 113,193, representing 94.38 percent, sat the examination.
The Minister said of the 113,193 who sat the examination, 88,548 representing 78.23 percent, passed in at least one subject, while 24,645 representing 21.77 percent, failed the examination.
And the 28,310 that sat for six or more subjects, 7,999 (28.94%) obtained certificates while 15,440 (54.54%) obtained statements meaning that they passed at least one but less than six subjects, while 4, 871 (17.21%) failed in all six or more subjects they sat.
The Minister said overall, a total of 6,735 candidates, representing 5.62 percent were absent from the examination. these included 2,951 boys and 3,784 girls. the 2024 absenteeism rate reduced by 0.79 percent from 6.41 percent in 2023.
And on examination malpractices, the Minister commended the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ), security wings and all other stakeholders who contributed towards the successful conduct of the leakage free examinations.
The results are now accessible through the SMS results notification system and that candidates will be able to access statements of results online from the ECZ portal using their examination numbers starting on the 16th of September 2024.