Free Education Policy Drives Zambia to Record 70% Grade 12 Pass Rate

The Ministry of Education is celebrating an unprecedented 70% pass rate in the 2025 Grade 12 examinations, attributing the success to the government's free education policy.

Out of 194,069 candidates who sat for exams, 136,357 obtained school certificates—a historic achievement that demonstrates the policy's positive impact on educational access and quality.

Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer Clive Kalunga described the results as "overwhelming," noting they validate the government's commitment to education. "When the doors were opened for everyone, this is what it translates into," he said, expressing optimism about reaching even higher pass rates.

While acknowledging current infrastructure challenges from increased enrollment, Kalunga emphasized these are short-term issues requiring long-term solutions through expanded school facilities. The ministry aims to achieve uniform performance across all regions, with Eastern Province continuing to lead.

George Hamusunga, Executive Director of the Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC), welcomed the results as proof that free education hasn't compromised academic standards. He noted the figures demonstrate full recovery from COVID-19 learning losses and show that increased teacher recruitment is paying dividends.

"Despite the numbers having improved, the quality of education at secondary level remains strong," Hamusunga said. "The increased recruitment of teachers has really had a very good impact."

The results mark a significant milestone since the 2022 declaration of free education, with students who were in Grade 9 at that time now successfully completing Grade 12 under the new policy framework.