Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
General Education Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba has clarified that grade 9 pupils who fail to progress to Grade 10 do not need to repeat to the sixth grade.
Dr. Kalumba says grade 9 pupils who fail to get a full certificate during the first exam sittings still have a chance to make amends when they sit as externals, pass and have the results combined.
Speaking at media briefing held in Lusaka, Dr. Kalumba has explained that grade 9 externals may repeat or simply rewrite the exams without learning from school.
Dr. Kalumba states that candidates who manage to pass can then enter grade 10 as mainstream learners and compete favorably with their counterparts who progressed at the first exam sitting.
He says the grade 9 external routes is therefore basically a second chance opportunity for learners who re-enter the mainstream schooling at grade 10 and then progress to grade 12.
Dr. Kalumba’s explanation follows the misinterpretation that learners who fail to obtain grade 9 certificate must repeat to the sixth grade in order to be assigned with a new exam number at grade 7.
And Dr. Kalumba has announced the extension of the registration of grade 8 and 10 pupils for a period of two weeks.
Dr. Kalumba says the extension is with effect from Thursday, 31st January,2019.