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The Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) has condemned the current General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination system, describing it as a “systematic scandal” that has contributed to the collapse of Zambia’s education system.
In a media briefing on Tuesday, SESTUZ General Secretary, Anthony Mukanda, criticized the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) for the continued undermining of the examination system’s integrity, attributing the issue to a network of malpractices.
Mukanda said the GCE examination model, which he accused of being the “leading institutional culprit,” continues to be a breeding ground for corruption.
This follows the suspension of eight GCE examination centres in September 2024, affecting thousands of students.
Mukanda explained that SESTUZ’s baseline survey, conducted in June 2024 across 36 centres (20 urban and 16 rural), revealed troubling findings about exam malpractices.
Although these issues appeared to be a small portion of the overall system, the survey showed that most GCE centres were engaged in unethical practices, particularly in rural areas.
According to Mukanda, 90 percent of candidates were ill-prepared for the exams, largely due to a lack of structured, supervised tuition.
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Mukanda emphasized that the lack of a credible examination system erodes public trust, devalues academic qualifications, and promotes unfair competition for university placements.
He also noted that such malpractices fostered inequity, giving an unfair advantage to those who cheat.
“The malpractices not only undermine the value of academic achievements but also deepen inequality in our education system,” Mukanda said.
SESTUZ has called on the government to consider suspending the GCE examinations entirely until a more robust, structured, and monitored system is put in place.
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