ECZ Suspends Five GCE Examination Centres Over Irregularities

The Examinations Council of Zambia has announced the suspension of five General Certificate of Education examination centres following confirmed examination irregularities identified during the 2025 examination cycle. The action, which takes effect immediately, will run for two years and affects centres located in North Western, Luapula, Muchinga and Lusaka Provinces. The announcement was issued in Lusaka on Thursday, 27th November 2025.

The suspended centres include Chovwe Day Secondary School GCE (Code 6295) in Kalumbila District and Kabanda Secondary GCE (Code 6209) in Mwinilunga District, both in North Western Province. The list also includes Kampampi GCE (Code 2627) situated in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province. Yolo Secondary GCE (Code 1696) in Nakonde District of Muchinga Province has also been suspended, together with Twatotela GCE (Code 9057) located in Lusaka District.

According to the Council, the suspension followed a review of reported malpractice cases and submitted evidence from the affected centres. The findings confirmed actions that compromised the integrity of the examinations. The suspension aims to protect the credibility of national assessments and ensure that all candidates sit for examinations in controlled and compliant environments.

As part of the enforcement action, the Council has nullified examination results for 1,654 candidates who wrote various subjects at the suspended GCE centres. This step aligns with Section 26 (5) of the ECZ Act Number 3 of 2023, which gives the Council authority to nullify any results obtained fraudulently or through malpractice. The Council explained that evidence showed that the affected results did not meet the required standards of exam integrity.

In addition to the GCE cases, the Council has nullified results for 151 candidates who sat for the 2025 Junior Secondary External Examination in Mungwi and Kaputa Districts in Northern Province, and in Chama District in Eastern Province. These additional nullifications are linked to malpractice reports verified during the marking and moderation processes. The Council emphasised that it applies the provisions of the law consistently when handling such cases.

The ECZ has issued a caution to all registered examination centres in the country, urging them to follow the established Guidelines for the Administration and Management of Examinations. The Council pointed out that irregularities often arise from failure to follow these guidelines, poor supervision, or deliberate attempts to influence examination outcomes. Centres are expected to put in place proper security measures, appoint qualified supervisors and invigilators, and maintain strict adherence to timelines and handling procedures.

The Council also advised prospective candidates and parents to take note that the suspended centres will not conduct examinations during the two-year suspension period beginning 2026. Candidates from these centres will be required to register at alternative accredited centres if they intend to sit for examinations during the suspension period. The Council will share more information with schools and district education offices to support candidates affected by this change.

The ECZ reaffirmed its commitment to conducting credible, transparent and internationally comparable assessments. The Council stated that maintaining the integrity of examinations protects learners, schools and the national qualifications system. It added that strong action against malpractice is intended to deter future irregularities and safeguard public confidence in national examinations.

The statement was signed and issued by Nicolas Nkhuwa, the Public Relations Manager at the Examinations Council of Zambia.