THE Auditor General’s latest report has revealed that Matero Boys Secondary School in Lusaka collected over K763,000 in General Certificate of Education (GCE) examination fees but has failed to show how the money was used.
According to the report, between November 8, 2024 and March 7, 2025, the school, which is an approved GCE examination centre, collected a total of K763,070 for the July 2025 GCE examinations.
The money included K334,200 in examination fees, K251,600 in administration fees, K129,800 in practical subject fees and K47,470 in tuition fees.
However, as of August 31, 2025, the funds could not be accounted for as the school failed to produce key financial documents such as deposit slips, revenue cashbooks and expenditure details.
The report further noted that the portion of funds meant for the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) could not be traced and that no proof was presented to show that the examination fees were deposited into an ECZ bank account or retained as cash on hand.
“Further, with regard to the GCE Examination Fees, which were required to be remitted to the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ), no evidence was provided to show that the funds were either deposited into a designated ECZ bank account or retained as cash on hand,” read the report.
The Auditor General cited Regulation 134 (1) of the Public Finance Management (General) Regulations, 2020, which requires every officer who collects public funds to account for all collections on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, a similar issue was recorded at Manyama Day Secondary School in Kalumbila District, North-Western Province, where K56,025 collected from GCE and Grade Nine external candidates also went unaccounted for.
“During the period under review, Manyama Secondary School had seventy seven
(77) pupils under General Certificate of Education (GCE) and sixteen (16) Grade
nine (9) External candidates. The school received funds totalling K56,025 from
GCE and Grade nine (9) external candidates,” stated the report.
The report disclosed that auditors found no receipts, no deposit slips and no cash on hand at the school.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, October 5, 2025
