Over 206,000 Candidates Obtain Certificates as 2025 Junior Secondary Results Show Improved Pass Rate.By White Luhanga
A total of two hundred and six thousand, three hundred and fifty-seven (206,357) candidates have obtained certificates out of two hundred and eighty-five thousand, six hundred and thirty-four (285,634) candidates who sat for the 2025 Junior Secondary School examinations.
Announcing the results in Lusaka, Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima revealed that three hundred and three thousand, six hundred and seventy-four (303,674) candidates entered the 2025 examinations.
He said the numbers represent one hundred and forty-four thousand, nine hundred and seventy-six (144,976), representing 47.74 percent, who were boys, while one hundred and fifty-eight thousand, six hundred and ninety-eight (158,698), representing 52.26 percent, were girls.
Mr. Syakalima stated that the proportion of candidates obtaining certificates rose from 55.89 percent in 2024 to 72.25 percent in 2025, marking an increase of 16.36 percentage points.
Meanwhile, the Minister disclosed that three hundred and eighty-four thousand, five hundred and ninety-two (384,592) out of five hundred and eighty-seven thousand, four hundred and seventy-one (587,471) candidates who registered for the 2025 examinations passed by obtaining Divisions One to Three.
He said this represents 71.36 percent, an improvement of 0.17 percentage points from 71.19 percent recorded in 2024.
The Minister said that of the three hundred and eighty-four thousand, five hundred and ninety-two (384,592) candidates who passed, two hundred and one thousand, three hundred and sixty-two (201,362), representing 47.64 percent, were boys, while one hundred and eighty-three thousand, two hundred and thirty (183,230), representing 52.36 percent, were girls.
Mr. Syakalima further noted that one hundred and fifty-four thousand, three hundred and seventy-three (154,373) candidates, accounting for 28.64 percent, failed the examination and will therefore not proceed to Form One.
The Minister also announced that the 2026 Form One and Grade 10 classes will open on Monday, 12th January 2026, at the same time as other grades, with a grace period of two weeks ending on Friday, 23rd January 2026.
©️ Zambia Reports | December 23rd, 2025.