By ANDREW PHIRI –

THE Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) says there is need for laws to be strengthened if the country is to effectively curb examination malpractices.
ECZ executive director Michael Chilala, who is also vice-president for the Association for Education Assessment in Africa (AEAA), said there was need for a more vigilant examination system in Zambia if the fight against leakages and malpractices was to be won.
Speaking in Livingstone yesterday during a preparatory meeting and press briefing for the hosting of the 32nd AEAA annual conference to be held in the tourist capital in August this year, Mr Chilala said the current law did not effectively put stringent measures to deter perpetrators.
Mr Chilala said there was need for the Act to be repealed in order for it to have serious punishment to deter would be offenders.
And AEAA president Joyce Ndalichako said the association was working with member countries to ensure stringent measures were put in place to curb the common vice of examination malpractices.
Dr Ndalichako said examination malpractices were as criminal as any other offences, hence the need for the perpetrators to be punished firmly.
“Some teachers do not feel comfortable if they do not engage in examination malpractices, so stern punishment is being taken by the association with those involved and we want Governments to also enforce the laws effectively,”  Dr Ndalichako said.
Dr Ndalichako said among other things, AEAA was formed to promote cooperation and assessment bodies in Africa, encourage relevant examining and assessment activities amongst members and coordinate research projects.
She mentioned other targets as the sponsoring of international participation in the field of education testing and examining, including the sharing of experiences on the issues of evaluation and assessment.
Dr Ndalichako said the association was in a business of conducting examinations and certifying the competence of deserving students at various levels of education in order for the students to contribute to the economies of their various countries.
“The certificates we award enable students to join the labor force market and contribute to the economies of their countries and beyond.
The meeting has drawn participation from Lesotho, Nigeria, Botswana, Ghana, Seirra-leon, hosts Zambia, and Kenya, while the Annual conference in August is expected to host about 500 delegates from all member states.