NAQEZ opposes suggestion to abolish grade 7 examinations

The National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has strongly opposed the suggestion to abolish grade seven examinations.

NAQEZ executive director Aaron Chansa says while his organisation agrees that the current grade 7 exams have lost educational meaning and are just a sheer waste of money and time, abolishing the exams would be promoting poor and quantity education in the country.

Mr. Chansa feels that the grade 7 exams which are one of the national assessment tools should simply be reformed instead of being abolished altogether.

He states that what the country urgently requires are credible examinations that perform evaluative and diagnostic functions.

Mr. Chansa has since endorsed the proposal to have school based assessment in grade 5 , further recommending that the cut-off point for grade seven be lowered and those who fail to perform well made to repeat.