The 2023 School Certificate (Grade 12) examination results highlights have revealed that mathematics recorded the lowest mean percentage score among all subjects down to about 26% from about 28% recorded in 2022 which is a worrying trend, as Mathematics is one of the core subjects and critical for many fields of study.
The highest mean percentage was recorded in Food and Nutrition (70.0%), followed by Fashion and Fabrics (66.76%) and Art and Design (64.33%). However, there was a decrease in the range of highest mean percentages in 2023 compared to 2022.
According to the 2023 School Certificate (Grade 12) Examination Results Highlights seen by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, mean percentage scores ranged from 26.62 percent in Mathematics to 70 percent in Food and Nutrition, almost similar to the range of 27.51 percent in Mathematics to 70 percent in Food and Nutrition in 2022.
On the other hand, the lowest mean percentage was recorded in Mathematics (26.62%), followed by History (26.99%) and Science (27.24%).
This has left citizens concerned about the state of education in the country and has raised questions about possible solutions to improve students’ performance, especially in this crucial subject.
The natural sciences subjects did not fare well either, with five out of eight subjects recording a decline in percentage points compared to the 2022 examinations. Biology decreased the most by 17.45 percentage points, followed by Computer Studies by 6.85 percentage points.
Similarly, Literature and Languages subjects also saw a decline in performance, with seven out of eleven subjects recording a decline in percentage points compared to 2022. The most decreased was Literature in English with 8.73 percentage points, followed by French (8.35 percentage points), and the third was English Language (4.28 percentage points). However, Chitonga and Lunda saw an increase in their percentage points.
In Social Sciences, four out of the five subjects recorded a decrease in percentage mean score. The largest decrease in percentage mean score was recorded in History at 7.25 percentage points, followed by Civic Education (4.07 percentage points) and Geography (1.7 percentage points). The only subject that recorded an increase is Christian Religious Education, with 0.92 percentage points.
Performance in practical subjects also decreased, with six out of the seven subjects recording a decrease in percentage points. The highest percentage point decrease was observed in Musical Arts at 8.11 percentage points, Home Management at a 5.75 percentage point decrease, and Physical Education at a 4.60 percentage point decrease. Only one subject, Food and Nutrition, did not record a decrease but maintained the same score of 70 percent as observed in the 2022 examinations.
The percentage mean scores for Practical subjects in 2023 were however above the natural pass mark of forty percent (40%), similar to 2022 and 2021. The authorities have since been challenged to investigate the reasons for this trend and replicate it in other subjects to improve overall performance in the exams.
