ECZ must stop printing exam papers abroad – NAQEZ

National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) says it finds the current practice of printing national examination papers out of the country strange and very inimical to skills development and government’s desire to industrialize for job creation.
NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa says this practice began in 2013 and the desire was to cure the mischief of exam leakages in the country.
Mr. Chansa says before this year, the printing was done within the country by Government printers.
“ECZ at first went to Britain to print exam papers and currently the exercise is done in India. As the country is aware, exam leakages have now reached catastrophic levels,” he said.
He says the suspension of national exams last year by the Minister of General Education stands as a classic example to the escalation of this retrogressive vice.
He adds that NAQEZ is against printing exam papers abroad as the trend does not only manage to export capital and jobs away from Zambia but also denies an opportunity for Zambians to acquire important engineering and printing skills which this exercise would present if done locally.
“We are also aware that printing exam papers abroad is costing the country three times more than it would spend if papers were printed at government printers. NAQEZ is further aware that at the moment, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the only Countries in the region still printing exam papers abroad. We think that this is degrading and an assault to our 54 years of political Independence as a nation,” said Mr. Chansa.
“Therefore, NAQEZ is of the considered view that, this practice must be curtailed and allow public resources to remain inside the country for skills development and economic growth. We don’t agree with the thinking that Zambia has no capacity to print these papers.”
Mr. Chansa has since pleaded with the Minister of General Education and his Permanent Secretary to critically consider his call and act in order to save billions of Kwacha.
“Once this money is saved, we see a clear situation where ECZ will enhance security in examination management and Begin to handsomely motivate teachers who invigilate national exams. The council will also be in a better position to pay markers of these exams on time. The saved funds would eventually enable the Examinations Council of Zambia to ultimately build its own printing facility for future assignments,” he said.


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