MSCE examinations start on a good note
The Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations have started on a high note with few cases of students not having identity cards.
About 146,000 students are sitting for the examinations across the country.
On our visit to some examination centres in Lilongwe, we discovered that the examinations were progressing well but some few students had challenges involving a mix-up of identity cards.
Others did not have the cards at all.
Centre supervisor for Bwaila Secondary School, Anita Kaliu, said five external candidates at the centre had no identity cards but said the issue has been reported to the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb).
“We have started very well, the security people came in time and we received the examinations in time. We have had few cases of students not having identity cards mostly because they were external students and they did not come to check when we asked them to, they were coming last minute,” she said.
A visit to Mkwichi Secondary School also showed that the examinations were progressing well.
Centre Supervisor, Bester Kabula, said the examinations have started on a good note as the students and invigilators were punctual.
She, however, said the only challenge they experienced is the exchange of identity card photographs by five students.
According to Kabula, the matter has since been reported to Maneb.
“The candidates came in town and the invigilators also came in time. Only five students exchanged photographs. I informed Maneb and they said there are processing the matter,” she said.
Two candidates, Samson Benjamin and Judith Gondwe, say the examination questions were a true reflection of what they learnt in class.
Maneb spokesperson, Simeon Maganga, has confirmed that examinations have started but asked for more time to make a proper assessment of the first day of the examinations.
“The examinations have started but we need more time to make an assessment of how the examinations have started nationwide, otherwise we will just speak for the sake of speaking,” he said.
Thursday morning, the students took agriculture practical examinations and one of the candidates at Zingwangwa Secondary School, Emily Makatani, said the examinations started well.
“The first paper went well and there were no disturbances. I prepared well: studying and practising mathematical problems. We have also been having discussions among ourselves,” she said.
This year’s MSCE examinations were marred by uncertainty following reports that Maneb does not have money for the allowances of its administrators.
A memo dated June 20 addressed to District Education Managers and Officers-in-Charge said Maneb does not have funds to enable the board to pay invigilators and police officers administering the examinations.
“We have no funds now to enable us to pay the allowances. We expect that the administrators of the 2017 Malawi School Certificate of Education will continue to carry out their tasks. Please inform officers that the payment will be done as soon as funds become available,” reads the memo in part
But Maganga would not confirm the authenticity of the memo.
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