Cognia-accredited online school
Approved Pearson Edexcel centre, International GCSE to A Level
Zambian law doesn't provide for homeschooling. The Education Act 2011 requires parents to enrol a child of school-going age at an educational institution, and only the Minister can grant an exemption.
This guide covers what the law says, what it means for families using an online school, Zambia's new school structure and A Levels, exams in Lusaka, costs, and routes to university in Zambia, South Africa and abroad.
Zambian law doesn't mention homeschooling. The Education Act 2011 makes school enrolment compulsory, with one route to an exemption.
| Law | What it says |
|---|---|
| Education Act 2011, section 17(1) | A parent must enrol a child who has reached school-going age at an educational institution and make sure the child attends |
| Education Act 2011, section 17(2) | The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, exempt a person entirely or partially from compulsory school attendance where it's in that person's best interest or the public interest |
| Education Act 2011, section 17(4) | Failing to enrol a child of school-going age without reasonable excuse, or withdrawing a learner from an educational institution, is an offence. The penalty is a fine of up to 100,000 penalty units, up to a year in prison, or both |
| Examinations Council of Zambia Act 2023 | The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) sets and conducts national examinations, and the Act provides for the accreditation of examination centres |
The Act doesn't define homeschooling or set up a registration route for it. We haven't found a published ministerial exemption for home education, so families should get advice before withdrawing a child from school.
For a child who lives in Zambia, studying with a foreign online school on its own may not meet the Act's enrolment duty.
Read the Education Act 2011Section 17 requires enrolment at an educational institution. We know of no route by which enrolment with a foreign online school, CambriLearn included, counts as enrolment under the Act.
The Minister can exempt a child from compulsory attendance, partly or entirely, by notice in the Gazette. Ask the Ministry of Education or a Zambian lawyer whether an exemption is realistic for your family.
Families who live in Zambia and want an international curriculum usually choose a private or international school registered in Zambia. CambriLearn's fees are set per subject, so a student at school can add a subject their school doesn't offer.
If your child's education needs to move with you between countries, speak to a consultant about where you'll be living, because the rules depend on the country you live in.
The 2023 Zambia Education Curriculum Framework shortens primary school, extends secondary school to six years and brings in Zambian A Levels.
| Stage | 2013 curriculum | 2023 curriculum |
|---|---|---|
| Early childhood | 4 years | 3 years |
| Primary | Grade 1 to Grade 7, starting at 7 | Grade 1 to Grade 6, starting at 6 |
| Secondary | Grade 8 to Grade 12 | Form 1 to Form 4 (O Level), then Form 5 and Form 6 (A Level) |
| National exams | Grade 7, Grade 9 and Grade 12 | End of primary, the School Certificate at the end of Form 4, and A Levels |
The Ministry of Education has abolished the Junior Secondary School Leaving Examination and automatic progression from primary to secondary school. Under the Ministry's implementation plan, reported in December 2024, 2025 was the last year of Grade 9 exams, Form 5 A Level classes start in 2026 and the first Zambian A Level exams are due in 2027.
Both curricula run side by side until 2028, when the last Grade 7 and Grade 12 exams on the 2013 curriculum are due to be written alongside the new Grade 6 and Form 4 exams.
