The Zambian government has cancelled compulsory ICT examinations in all schools across the country because it could not procure and distribute computers, according to the Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZANUT).

This latest development has emerged less than two months after another teachers' union, the Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SSTUZ) warned the government against rushing the implementation of compulsory ICT examinations in schools across the country.

The Union warned that this could be disastrous because the Southern African country was not ready as most schools lacked ICT equipment including laptops, computers and tablets.

However, the Minister of Education Michael Kaingu insisted that the examinations would go ahead this year because he said ICT is being taught in schools.

Now ZANUT public relations officer Joe Kasaka said without computers, it was impossible for teachers to conduct the practical aspect of the ICT examinations.

"As you may be aware, 40% of the ICT examinations are practical while 60% is theory. So pupils cannot be assessed on the aspect of theory alone but also on practical aspect. So we urge the government to find money and buy the computers so that pupils can sit for examinations," Kasaka said.

The cancellation will not affect other examinations, nor will it have a bearing on the overall performance of pupils and final results.

The Minister of Education could not be reached for a comment.

A survey conducted by UNICEF two years ago found that digital literacy in Zambia, especially among the youth, was very low.