GOVERNMENT has announced sweeping changes to its national education assessment system, aligning it with a new skills-based curriculum aimed at preparing learners for modern workforce demands.
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The reforms were outlined during the opening of the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) conference in Livingstone yesterday.
Officiating the event, Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima highlighted a shift from traditional content-based examinations to a competence and skills based model.
Syakalima stated that the new system will focus on evaluating learners’ practical skills and competencies, rather than relying solely on memorisation and academic content.
He said the changes follow the implementation of a new national curriculum in 2025, which emphasises skills development and real world application of knowledge.
The minister also stated that the assessment system will be inclusive, technology-supported, and guided by principles of fairness and transparency.
Syakalima revealed that the changes are part of broader reforms being implemented across the education sector.
He noted that Zambia is overhauling how learning is measured to ensure assessments are relevant, inclusive and aligned with real world applications.
“We are moving towards a system that evaluates what learners can do, not just what they know. This is a necessary step as our education system evolves,” stated Syakalima.
“Since 2021, Zambia has recruited more than 41,000 teachers and re-enrolled over two million learners into the school system following the introduction of a free education policy in 2022. These developments have increased demand for an assessment model that reflects current teaching and learning practices.”
He disclosed that the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) is leading the development of the new system in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
“The reforms are part of efforts to ensure learners are better prepared for the workforce and national development,” he added.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba September 23, 2025
