Examinations Council of Zambia

Name

Examinations Council of Zambia

Legal name

Examinations Council of Zambia

Website

https://exams-council.org.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) is Zambia's statutory national examination body, setting and conducting standardized assessments for primary, junior secondary, senior secondary, GCE, and teacher education candidates and awarding internationally comparable certificates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Assessment Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Test Administration, Proctoring & Security Authorities (EDADAFAH), Online Exam Delivery & Test Administration Platforms (EDAFADAA), Assessment Policy, Benchmarking & International Comparability Authorities (EDADAFAJ)

Keywords

• National examination services
• Educational assessment body
• Examination certification
• Teacher education examinations
• Secondary school examinations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Examination Registration Fees: Candidates pay fees for examination registration at various levels (Primary School Leaving, Junior Secondary, School Certificate, GCE, Teacher Education). The Council determines fees payable for services rendered.
2. Certificate Award Fees: Candidates who pass examinations are awarded certificates upon payment of applicable fees. Certificate issuance is a core statutory function.
3. Examination Inspection Services: The Council may determine fees for inspection conducted or other services rendered.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ECZ prepares, administers, and awards certificates for nationally standardized examinations in Zambia at primary (Grade 7), junior secondary (Grade 9 internal and external), senior secondary (Grade 12 School Certificate), General Certificate of Education (GCE), and teacher education levels. The Council operates the ECZ Service Portal — a digital platform enabling candidate registration, examination fee payment via mobile money and card networks, and query management — and supports delivery through its Lusaka headquarters and a network of 10 provincial offices.

Product overview

The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) operates as a unified platform offering educational assessment services, primarily delivering national examination services at multiple levels: Primary School Leaving (Grade 7), Junior Secondary (Grade 9 internal and external), School Certificate (Grade 12), General Certificate of Education (GCE), and Teacher Education examinations. The core offering is complemented by the ECZ Service Portal—a digital platform enabling online examination registration, digital payment processing via mobile money (Airtel Money, MTN Money, Zamtel Kwacha) and card payments (Visa, MasterCard), and access to examination results. Supporting services include examination performance review reports, corporate brochures, approved examination centre directories, official guidelines and circulars (including GAMEZ), and a library subscription service providing access to academic e-journals for research purposes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ECZ Service Portal Online digital platform enabling candidates to create accounts, register for ECZ examinations, pay examination fees through mobile money or card, submit service queries, and access feedback on results processing. Used by individual candidates across Zambia.
• Primary School Leaving Examination (Grade 7) National examination administered by ECZ for students completing Grade 7 (primary school) in Zambia, used as a standardized assessment for progression to junior secondary education.
• Junior Secondary School Leaving Examination (Grade 9)
• General Certificate of Education (GCE)
• Teacher Education Examination

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Profight ZambiaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 September 2025Aviation partner for the 50th IAEA Conference. Offering 20% discount on airfare for conference delegates using booking code ECZ25.
• Zambia AirwaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 September 2025Official airline partner for the 50th IAEA Conference. Offering discounted fares for conference delegates using booking code ECZ25.
• Avani Victoria Falls ResortminorOthers · 20 September 2025Conference venue for the 50th IAEA Conference in Livingstone, Zambia. Located at Victoria Falls, this resort serves as the host venue for the prestigious international event.
• Ministry of EducationcoreOthersGovernment ministry overseeing education policy in Zambia. ECZ collaborates with the ministry in the administration of examinations as stipulated in the ECZ Act.
• Southern Africa Association of Educational Assessment (SAAEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association for educational assessment professionals. ECZ maintains membership and collaborates with SAAEA for professional development and best practices sharing.
• International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal association for educational assessment. ECZ is hosting the 50th IAEA Conference in Livingstone, Zambia in September 2025, celebrating the association's Golden Jubilee.
• Association For Educational Assessment In Africa (AEA Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinental association for educational assessment in Africa. ECZ collaborates with AEA Africa for knowledge sharing and professional networking across African assessment bodies.
• Zambia Qualifications AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational qualifications authority. ECZ collaborates with Zambia Qualifications Authority for the verification of examination qualifications conferred by the Council, ensuring quality assurance and recognition of credentials.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pearson Edexcel: Global examination and qualification awarding body operating broadly across multiple international markets. Comparable to ECZ in delivering standardised assessments, though as part of a much larger commercial portfolio.
• Cambridge Assessment International Education: Global assessment provider that historically served as Zambia's examining body prior to ECZ's establishment. Remains a broad incumbent in international curricula and examinations across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Direct peers

• West African Examinations Council (WAEC): Regional examining body serving five West African countries, administering standardised examinations including WASSCE. Comparable to ECZ in operating model (multi-country standardised assessment) and revenue model (candidate fees).
• Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC): Statutory body responsible for primary and secondary school examinations in Zimbabwe. Directly comparable to ECZ as a Southern African national assessment authority with similar examination portfolio.
• Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB): Uganda's national examinations body administering primary (PLE), secondary (UCE, UACE), and other examinations. Closely comparable to ECZ in regulatory mandate and regional context.
• National Examinations Council (Nigeria): Nigerian statutory body administering senior school certificate examinations and other national tests. Comparable to ECZ in mandate, scale, and government parastatal structure.
• Botswana Examinations Council (BEC): Statutory examinations body in Botswana administering Junior Certificate, Cambridge International, and Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations. Comparable regional peer with similar mandate.
• Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC): Statutory national examination body in Kenya responsible for primary, secondary, and teacher education examinations. Highly comparable to ECZ in mandate, structure, and operational scope within the East African region.
• Tanzania National Examinations Council (NECTA): Tanzania's statutory body for national examinations across primary, secondary, and teacher education levels. Operates an analogous mandate and regional context to ECZ.
• National Assessment and Examination Centre (Rwanda): Rwanda's national body for examinations and educational assessment. Comparable regional peer with similar mandate around primary and secondary certification.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/exams_zambia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCleT-qA31CNe00AMC8tHqxQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/examscouncilzambia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/examscouncilzambia
• Instagraminstagram.com/examinationscouncilofzambia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Examinations Council of Zambia