Zambia uses English alongside local languages in education, administration, justice, work and daily life. Legal and education rules allow local languages to serve as languages of instruction, but practice differs by school, district and education level. The formal school path runs from early childhood education through primary and secondary school. A phased rollout of the 2023 curriculum began in January 2025, with English used generally as the language of instruction and code-switching used during foundation learning. Current early-childhood and lower-primary syllabi and Ministry of Education materials still cover the seven designated Zambian languages. The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) assesses language skills through reading, writing, comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and functional communication. The 2026 Primary School Leaving Examination follows seven years of primary education and includes English plus one Zambian language selected by the school. School Certificate language subjects include English, French, Literature in English and the seven Zambian languages. School Certificate entry normally requires a Junior Secondary Certificate and three years of senior secondary education; General Certificate of Education entry requires a National Registration Card or a valid passport. For the 2026 examination cycle, registration ran from 10 November 2025 to 6 March 2026. Public and grant-aided examination candidates had no examination fee, while the listed private fees were K100 for PSLE, K600 for School Certificate and K200 per GCE subject. Candidates and their parents or guardians must verify registration data and meet examination-integrity requirements. Candidates with special educational needs receive 25% additional writing time. Youth and Adult Literacy Education (YALE) provides a formal option for adults through YALE centres across Zambia. The Ministry of Education reported more than 2,355 centres and 58,645 learners in 2023, including 16,016 male and 42,629 female learners. The 2025 National Education Policy reports that about 27% of people aged 15 and older lack school attendance or basic literacy, while YALE provision faces shortages in bursaries, staff, infrastructure and skills equipment. The CDC Digital Library provides literacy and language materials in the seven Zambian languages, including YALE Option 1 Level 1 materials. Centre schedules and fees vary locally, and no national uniform course fee is established. French is taught as a Form 1–4 curriculum subject. Alliance Française offers French courses for children, adults and companies in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone, with DELF and DALF examinations available through the French-language pathway. English, Nyanja and Bemba are also used in learning and practical communication, but no national requirement for an additional foreign language is established. Course forms may be available for 2025 and 2026, while published course fees should be checked with the provider. For international study, work and migration, IELTS Zambia tests listening, reading, writing and speaking. British Council Zambia listed 2026 prices of ZMW 7,900 for computer-delivered Academic or General Training, ZMW 8,470 for UKVI Academic or General Training and ZMW 5,740 for Life Skills A1 or B1. Dates and prices can change, and employers outside formal examination systems do not use one uniform national language-proof requirement. A certificate should therefore be selected according to the receiving university, employer, immigration authority or other institution. The Zambia Learning Passport, supported by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF, provides digital learning materials including audio, video, PDF and ePub resources. Audio materials cover early childhood education in five local languages and Grades 1–4 in seven local languages; Grades 5–7 materials are in English, while video material extends from early childhood education to Grade 11. Airtel zero-rating has been reported as an access aid, but a suitable device, data access, electricity and network coverage still affect use. Families, communities, local media and religious or social settings also support language learning, code-switching and heritage-language maintenance. These informal routes are not standardised and do not provide a uniform certificate, fee structure or deadline.
Languages in Zambia
English is Zambia's official language and has the widest use in government, formal education, business and written work. Seven Zambian languages—Chitonga, Cinyanja, Icibemba, Lunda, Luvale, Kikaonde and Silozi—are designated for learning and teaching, while regional languages remain central to everyday and community communication. Language learning ranges from school literacy and adult education to French, English proficiency tests, digital materials and informal family learning.
Tip
Choose a learning option according to the result you need: school progress, adult literacy, community communication, French, or an accepted English certificate. English is usually the practical priority for formal education and written work, while a relevant Zambian language can be more useful for local daily communication and early learning. Confirm the provider, acceptance, current fee and access conditions before paying or relying on a certificate.