BY SANDRA CHUUNGU.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Douglas Siyakalima, has announced the examination results for Grade 7 and 9 students.
A total of 350,116 Grade 7 candidates and 169,280 Grade 9 candidates who sat for the 2024 exams have obtained certificates. 
According to Dr. Siyakalima, 543,069 candidates registered for the Grade 7 examinations, representing an 8.04% increase from last year. Of these, 259,066 were male (47.7%) and 284,003 were female (52.7%).
For Grade 9, 325,108 candidates registered, a 3.6% increase from last year. Males accounted for 154,345 (47.7%) of the candidates, while females accounted for 170,763 (52.3%). However, only 302,870 candidates sat for the exams, with 143,038 being males and 159,832 being females.
Dr. Siyakalima noted that the pass rate for Grade 9 exams increased by 2.34% compared to last year, with 169,280 candidates obtaining certificates.
The Minister attributed the improvement in the pass rate to the mass recruitment of teachers, procurement of school desks and materials, and the construction of new schools and classroom blocks under the Constituency Development Fund allocation.
Dr. Siyakalima also reported that there were no instances of examination paper leaks, but 92 cases of assistance were recorded, and the results of those involved have been withheld pending a determination by the Examinations Council of Zambia Board.
