Zambia Records Historic Grade 12 Pass Rate

By Sharon Siame

Zambia has surpassed the 70 per cent mark in the School Certificate pass rate for candidates who sat the Grade 12 examinations in 2025, setting a new national record.

Announcing the results in Lusaka today, Education Minister DOUGLAS SYAKALIMA said the achievement marks the first time the country has recorded a pass rate above 70 per cent at School Certificate level.

Mr. SYAKALIMA disclosed that 136,357 candidates obtained School Certificates out of the 194,069 pupils who sat the examinations, translating into a 70.26 per cent pass rate.

He said 54,771 candidates obtained statements of results, while only 2,941 candidates failed the examinations.

The Minister further noted a reduction in absenteeism, which dropped by 0.15 percentage points from 1.98 per cent in 2024 to 1.83 per cent in 2025.

Mr. SYAKALIMA attributed the improved performance and other achievements to Government policies and education sector interventions currently being implemented.

Meanwhile, announcing the results for teacher examinations, Mr. SYAKALIMA said 588 candidates qualified for the award of a Teachers’ Diploma.

He explained that the figure includes 159 candidates graduating with an Early Childhood Education Teachers’ Diploma, 239 with a Secondary Teachers’ Diploma, and 190 with a Secondary Teacher’s Diploma.